Wakefield Trinity vs Warrington Wolves Prediction: Russell one to watch

Betfred Challenge Cup finalists Warrington head to Wakefield on Sunday looking to use their semi-final win last week as a springboard for a strong run in Super League. (Kick-off 3pm)

Trinity sit just outside the top six but enjoyed a big confidence-boosting win over rivals Castleford at Magic and will be fresh from a weekend off while the Wolves were in Cup action. Below you can find my Wakefield Trinity vs Warrington Wolves betting tips. 

Team news

Wakefield name an unchanged squad from their Magic Weekend win over the Tigers but Warrington winger Matty Russell looks ready to return, and could do so at the expense of Lachlan Walmsley despite his heroics in Newcastle.

Still absent through injury are Renouf Atoni, Oliver Russell, Thomas Doyle, Ky Rodwell and Caleb Hamlin-Uele.

Warrington suffered a crushing blow during the week with their England winger Matty Ashton ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury which will also deny him the chance to play in the Ashes series against Australia. 

Marc Sneyd made a stunning return from facial injury to guide his side to the Challenge Cup final last week but his half-back partner George Wiliams remains sidelined with his ankle injury.

Danny Walker is out long-term too, while young winger Josh Thewlis suffered a head injury last weekend and is thus unable to play. 

So boss Sam Burgess needs cover in the outside backs and brings in Connor Wrench and Jack Gardner. It will be either Stefan Ratchford or Oli Leyland to partner Sneyd in the halves.

Rugby League Odds

Wakefield Trinity 1-12 points @ 9/4

Wakefield produced a hugely impressive performance to win the reverse fixture away at the Halliwell Jones Stadium early this season and I give them a good chance of producing an upset here too.

Warrington put a lot into last weekend's bid to reach Wembley - and it was worth it with that victory over Leigh. But that could mean a bit of a struggle on their return to Super League action and I expect this to be a pretty fierce contest.

Trinity have exceeded expectations so far on their return to the top flight and their encouraging home attendances have helped hugely.

Another big atmosphere could help Daryl Powell's side here - and don't forget the extra edge there is that Powell was sacked by Warrington during his miserable spell as head coach there.

Warrington should win this game, and if Sneyd plays like he did in the semi-final then I think they will.

But something is just telling me that Wakefield have a shot, and thus I am going to take a punt on the West Yorkshire side this week to win narrowly.

A look at the recent head-to-head records backs up the gut instinct on this one. Wakefield have won six of their last seven games against Warrington.

Matty Russell anytime try scorer @ 7/4

There are some good options out there this week and a lot will depend on who lines up out wide for both sides.

I think Warrington will really feel the absence of first-choice wingers Ashton and Thewlis, while Trinity have the opposite problem of fitting all their options into one line-up.

Matty Russell has been in and out of the Wakefield team but has impressed since resurrecting his career at the top level. And the former Warrington man will have a point to prove at 7/4 so is therefore well worth a look.

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