Wakefield Trinity vs Leigh Leopards Prediction: Visitors worth backing on handicap

Two sides with playoff aspirations meet on Sunday at the DIY Kitchens Stadium as Wakefield face Leigh for the third time already in 2025. (Kick-off 2:30pm, Live on BBC Two)

The Leopards knocked Trinity out in their Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-final in April, but Wakefield were big winners away from home just a week earlier. Read on for my Wakefield Trinity vs Leigh Leopards predictions.

Team News

Wakefield boss Daryl Powell makes just once change to his squad for what feels like an important game for both sides.

Jake Trueman has been declared fit after a back issue and returns in place of Thomas Doyle, with the hooker struggling with a groin injury.

Leopards head coach Adrian Lam also keeps a relatively stable squad, making just one alteration too.

Half-back Gareth O'Brien is available again after a head injury sustained against Wigan Warriors last month. His spot in the squad had already been vacated by Jack Darbyshire following his loan move to Rochdale Hornets in League 1.

Hooker Edwin Ipape is set to make his 100th career appearance while winger Josh Charnley, who has been in and out of the side so far this season, has been the subject of transfer speculation this week.

Wakefield Trinity vs Leigh Leopards Odds

Wakefield are 5/6 to win, while Leigh are 21/20 and the draw can be backed at 18/1.

Handicap 3-way Alternative 1:  Leigh Leopards -2 @ 11/8

This feels like a really difficult game to call with Wakefield having hammered Leigh away from home earlier this season, but the Leopards prevailing in the bigger tie in the Challenge Cup.

Ultimately both teams will feel they have to win this one to underline their play-off credentials, and although it is 4th against 7th, the Leopards are only three points ahead of Trinity in the table.

Wakefield have been something of a revelation since their promotion back to the top echelon of British rugby league and to be honest I keep expecting them to start floundering. That still hasn't really happened and despite losing out 22-18 at Leeds in the last outing, May saw three huge wins prior to that - 72-10 over Salford, 40-10 against Warrington and 32-8 at Castleford.

So I would probably have the home side as favourites here, and our handicap agrees with that instinct this week by giving Leigh a slender two-point start.

I feel like Wakefield should win this, but I also feel that Leigh are the stronger team. How does that make sense? Well come the end of the season I anticipate Leigh being above Wakefield, as they are now, and I still believe that Trinity are over-performing.

If Wakey get on a roll under Powell then they can dominate this game, and the raucous home crowds have really helped in that regard this year.

But something just tells me - and I may be way off - that Leigh are due something. And I can see them grabbing a narrow win here in a cracker.

Edwin Ipape anytime tryscorer @ 11/4

The wise money this week is on tries for the wingers. You won't find much better than evens however on the likes of Tom Johnstone or Josh Charnley and a look further down the field always sees me land on Edwin Ipape.

The Papua New Guinea international is like both an extra half-back and extra front-rower when he gets close to the line, and I am always tempted by the hooker's odds given his penchant for a try.

At 11/4 I'm looking at Ipape to mark his milestone game with a touchdown.

Offers

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