Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR Predictions: 13/2 Ashton could get leaders going

The top two teams in the Betfred Super League heading in to Round 20 face off on Friday as leaders Warrington Wolves entertain second-placed Hull Kingston Rovers in what promises to be a thriller at the Halliwell Jones Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports Action).

Wigan Warriors’ recent downturn in form has seen the league’s two form sides leapfrog them into play-off semi-final spots. So my Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR predictions will be built on the expectation that there will be little to divide the sides.

Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR Odds

Having already beaten Rovers twice this season, Sam Burgess’ Wolves are favourites to win on Friday and make it three from three. They’re priced at 1/3, with KR a 12/5 shot for an away victory and the 80-minute draw is 18/1.

Team News

England international John Bateman is named in the Warrington squad following his loan move from Wests Tigers and will make his Wire debut, coach Burgess has confirmed this week.

“I don’t know where he’s going to play. It’s a hard question because everyone is playing so well, [but] he is going to play. I’ve not brought him over to watch.

“He’ll be in the 17, but we’re just trying to figure out where that will be,” Burgess told members of the press.

Toby King, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Joe Philbin all return to contention having been named in the 21-player squad after overcoming injuries, but the Wolves remain without the suspended James Harrison following his recent sending-off against St Helens which earned him a two-match ban.

Rugby League Odds

Rovers will have Tyrone May back after concussion and Elliot Minchella returns having missed the win over London Broncos last week. The club captain was rested by head coach Willie Peters following a lung-busting effort in the victory at Leeds Rhinos the week before.

Peters has also insisted that James Batchelor will be fit to play big minutes after being gently reintroduced against London following ankle surgery.

Matty Storton is the only notable absentee from Rovers’ 21, with the one-match suspension he incurred for a stray boot to a London player’s head ruling him out of this one.

Warrington to win by 6-10 points @ 4/1

This one is far from straight-forward, but if the Wire can match the enthusiasm that they have shown in recent weeks – most notably in last week’s 40-4 shellacking of Wigan at the Brick – then they should have more than enough to deal with Hull KR’s threats.

The Robins come with momentum slowly picking up once more, with two successive games having been won with late rallies. But their problem has been in patching two 40-minute performances together, as evidenced on their previous trip to the HJ in May when their poor defensive showing in the first half left them with too much to do.

They will be backed by thousands of travelling supporters for what is arguably one of the club’s biggest regular-season fixtures of the Super League era, with the Robins never having previously headed the league table beyond round 12.

But there are still question marks for me about this side, even if Mikey Lewis has continued to develop as a leader right in front of our eyes this season.

I just see those lapses continuing from time to time in games, and that ought to be enough for a powerful Warrington outfit to add a sixth straight win to their ledger.

Matty Ashton first tryscorer @ 13/2 (with Double Delight)

The first-tryscorer market is not one I venture into too often, but when Betfred offer their Double Delight special I have been known to dabble.

Basically, if your player scores the first try of the match, then goes on to score another, Betfred will double your first tryscorer price. That makes Matty Ashton – scorer of 16 tries in all competitions – an appealing prospect.

He has already breached the Rovers defence in each of the previous meetings earlier this season, and I fancy him to go over again on Friday. It’s a bit of a crap shoot when it comes to whether he might cross first, but I think the risk is worth the reward.

The 13/2 odds imply a 13.3% probability, but having scored the second try against KR both home and away I’m willing to back him going a little earlier this time and then keeping my fingers crossed that the Double Delight might come in later.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.