Warrington vs St Helens Prediction: Sculthorpe’s 15/8 tip for Friday’s mega clash

Ahead of Saints’ visit to Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium at 8pm on Friday, club legend Paul Sculthorpe shares his thoughts – and a 15/8 tip – on the big Betfred Super League clash.

As we go into the last few rounds of the season, with everyone focused on achieving the best possible finishing position and heading into the play-offs in form, coaches MUST also look to the future.

So far, in his first season as Saints gaffer, Paul Wellens is either playing the patient game or is keeping his cards very close to his chest with only Darryl Clark recruited as a replacement for the retiring James Roby.

There’s always going to be speculation from many quarter surrounding comings and goings, but it’s very quiet around the Totally Wicked Stadium right now.

As always at St Helens, the focus is well and truly on winning trophies. It’s what we do, what drives the club both on and off the field.

As I predicted, all three front runners collected two points last weekend, with Saints enjoying a hard-fought 22-12 victory over the Leigh Leopards, Catalans’ unconvincing 18-10 win against a desperate Wakefield and Wigan’s 50-0 humiliation of the woeful Leeds Rhinos.

The trio remain equal at the head of the Betfred Super League table on 36 points, but the Warriors hold top spot thanks to a superior points difference.

They probably won’t be challenged again this week, as they face Castleford at the DW Stadium. The Dragons face Leeds, so a good chance another win there, and the Saints have probably the toughest game as we travel the the Halliwell Jones to take on Warrington, who come off the back of a Golden Point defeat at Salford, clinging onto sixth place through points difference.

I suspect Wigan will go onto claim the League Leaders’ Shield, but the mighty Saints won’t go down without a fight – which is exactly what I’m expecting against the Wire on Friday.

It should be a close game, but I’m backing Saints to do the business by 1-12 points.