Huddersfield Giants Super League title odds drop

Jan 23 2010 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Giants’ success in 2009 has been reflected on the betting front ahead of Super League XV.

Head coach Nathan Brown’s men finished last season in third place and reached the Challenge Cup final.

And on the back of a positive recruitment front, they have caught the attention of bookmakers William Hill.

As a result, they have been backed from 16-1 last season to 12-1 this to finish top of the table.

“There has been decent money for Huddersfield to continue their consistency from last season and top the ladder in 2010,” revealed William Hill rugby league odds compiler Mark Lightfoot.

The Giants are also available at 9-2 with Blue Square to fare best in a separate market without Leeds and Saints, while Warrington and Wigan are 4-1 joint favourites.

Once again Leeds Rhinos are the bookies favourites to take the major Super League honours.

“We have seen a bit of money for Wigan, but Leeds have again been the best backed side,” added Lightfoot.

“Punters still believe that in the main, the Rhinos will be the team to beat again in 2010.”

At the other end of the table, Crusaders and Salford are again expected to struggle, with the Welsh side fancied by William Hill customers for another wooden spoon despite landing a coup with the capture of Brian Noble as head coach and former Giants chief Jon Sharp and Iestyn Harris as his assistants.

“Despite the arrival of Noble and his coaching staff, punters still believe that the Crusaders are good things for the wooden spoon. They have been well backed and are now 4-6 from an original 6-5,” continued Lightfoot.

Salford secured eight points more than the Crusaders in 2009 and can be backed at 11-4 with Hills to prop up the table this time, with Harlequins rated the only other team in real danger here at 10-1.

Giants full-back Brett Hodgson is 10-1 with Sky Bet to retain the Man of Steel award, with James Graham and Jamie Peacock 6-1 favourites and Adrian Morley on 8-1, alongside Bradford’s big-money recruit Matt Orford.

Leeds winger Ryan Hall is 8-1 to again bag the most tries, with St Helens youngster Kyle Eastmond a 10-1 chance – while Blue Square offer 6-4 the leading scorer comes from either of the big two clubs.

Warrington are 9-1 at best to retain the Challenge Cup, with St Helens 7-2 in places to regain control of a trophy they lifted for the three previous years and Leeds 3-1 to prevail for the first time since 1999.

Sky Bet offer 5-4 for aLancashire side to oblige for the fifth straight time in the knockout competition, the same price for a Yorkshire club to come out on top at Wembley, 6-1 for either of the two Humberside teams and 8-1 for a combined bid from London, Wales and France.