Thursday 21 February 2013 14:55, UK
Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor go head-to-head with their Super League predictions...
| Round | Barrie | Terry |
| Round 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Round 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Round 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Total | 16 | 16 |
Terry says: This is going to be a difficult game for me to call. I look at the squad that Melbourne have brought over and it is just packed full of world class talent. They have one of the best players in the world in Cameron Smith. At fullback they have Billy Slater and they also have Cooper Cronk. The three key positions in rugby league are fullback, hooker and scrumhalf and they absolute world class players in all three positions. When these three played last year they won 19 out of the 21 games they were all involved in - that shows just how important they are to Melbourne.
I do think that Melbourne go into this game as favourites but then I look at Leeds Rhinos and the people who are involved. I like to get some banter going with my good friend Barrie McDermott but I know just how important he is working behind the scenes for Leeds. He was the first person to win this trophy as a player and as part of the coaching team. What Leeds have got in their armoury is that they are playing at home. I know their fans will turn out in force and support them. Trust me when you are playing at Headingley and the fans start cheering and chanting it is a very intimidating place. I also hope that Kevin Sinfield also plays to his full potential - just to shut up some people who have criticised him winning the Golden Boot award. His influence on that side is incredible and is a big part of what Leeds do.
Leeds also have got the likes of Jamie Peacock, Ryan Hall and Rob Burrows, players who can stand their own against anyone. I think a big loss is Zak Hardaker but you can never write Leeds off. They are a team who know how to win. I know Barrie is going to go for Leeds and for that reason I am going to go for Melbourne. I really do hope I lose this one. I love everything about Leeds - the players are great and the clubs are outstanding. However with some of the youngsters they are brining combined with the experience they have got I just think that Melbourne will clinch this one by a score.
TERRY PREDICTS: Melbourne by a score
Barrie says: This is going to be a really exciting game - a real corker. The Melbourne Storm have a good reputation in Australia. They have had some unfortunate things happen to them in terms of the salary cap breaches but you cannot ignore the quality of this side. Looking at the one to 18 that has been named I think it will be a fantastic game. The unfortunate thing for Leeds is that Zak Hardaker may well miss the game with a thumb injury so a few people will have to change positions but Joe Vickery, who got injured in the first game of the season, looks like he will be available to come in on the wing.
Carl Ablett can then move to the centre and then that could free up Kallum Watkins to play full-back almost in a Greg Inglis type of role - a big strike player and would be playing in a free role like full-back. It all points to being a good game. Kevin Sinfield, the Golden Boot winner, should be prominent. I think it will be a really tight game but I am tipping the Rhinos, with home advantage, to win by two points.
BARRIE PREDICTS: Leeds by two points
Terry says: You hear about people talking about character in the game all the time and I think Hull coach Peter Gentle will be happy with the character his side showed coming back against St Helens to get the draw. For two weeks I have thought that Daniel Holdsworth has been Hull's most influential player. There are players who fly under the radar, who just get out there and do their work and he is. Ben Galea made 35 tackles last week and we have all seen what he can do with ball in hand, he is a very creative player.
Paul Johnson is a player who flies under the radar a bit but he came off the bench against Saints and was the only player to make 100m carrying the ball. He is a tough little nuggety player and Hull will need him and Galea to stand up to the a Warrington side that look so very good. Warrington have showed their power and class this season - they may not have Adrian Morley but they have the likes of Paul Wood, Chris Hill and former Hull player Gareth Carvell.
They have class right across the board but I have been most impressed by Chris Riley and Joel Monaghan - the big clash in this game will be between Joel and Tom Briscoe. It should be a cracking game.
TERRY PREDICTS: Warrington by 8 points
Barrie says: Hull FC did really well last week to go to St Helens and pick up a point, and in truth should have won the game. They will take a lot of confidence from that. Tony Smith's men played really well last weekend against some stiff opposition.
There was a lot said about the physicality of the game with Ben Westwood picking up a one-match ban in the week. I think Hull FC will go into this with a lot of confidence, although Richie Myler is playing incredibly well for the Wolves. Not everybody will agree with this but I think Hull FC at home will be a good match for the Wolves. It will be a good game.
BARRIE PREDICTS: Hull FC by four points
Terry says: If you look at Salford's first half performance they are doing okay. They really need to concentrate in that second half. They play quite positively and are not a negative side and they like to throw the ball around. They need to tighten up their defence too. Hull KR are coming off the back of a win against Widnes.
Constantine Mika was absolutely enormous for them - he will be one of the players disappointed that the shoulder charge has been ruled out. He put about four or five of them about last week! Hull KR are a big side and will use that to good effect. Michael Dobson is a great playmaker too and Salford will need to keep a close eye on him. If you stop him then you have a good chance of stopping Hull KR. I expect Salford to put up a spirited fight but for Hull KR to win.
TERRY PREDICTS: Hull KR by 18 points
Barrie says: This is the only one where I am going to go with the away team. Hull KR were really good last weekend. There were some good signs and against Widnes, who were in a confident mood, the contest was really even until Hull KR kicked into that second gear. The three-quarters Hull KR have are some fast, athletic players so I am expecting a good few tries and I am going to go for Hull KR to win.
BARRIE PREDICTS: Hull KR by 20 points
Terry says: Saints drew last week and conceded a try nine minutes from time and will feel very disappointed. I still think they are yet to click and they are almost there though. For Bradford well Brett Kearney scored three tries against Castleford last weekend and they looked very good. They won by 38 points which is a huge effort. However I have this feeling about Saints - there is a good culture at t Helens and I think we are just used to them winning over the years. I'm going to stick my neck out for them once again and say St Helens.
TERRY PREDICTS: St Helens by 10 points
Barrie says: The Bulls played really well last week and I was really impressed with Brett Kearney, who plays a full-back/stand-off role. Last week he played an incredible match, scoring three tries of the back of some good work from the two hookers that they have got. They have Heath L'Estrange
and Matt Diskin and some big fellas in the middle.
I think home advantage will count for a lot against Saints, who are struggling a bit. I still think they will be there or thereabouts. James Roby, and his battle with L'Estrange and Diskin, will be key. The battle of the ruck will be important as well. I am going for another tight game.
BARRIE PREDICTS: Bradford by six points
Terry says: We talk about concentration in league and how you have to concentrate for the full eighty minutes but Broncos will be very disappointed that they lost concentration in the first set of six last week and conceded a try. They really cannot afford to do that against a Wigan side who were beaten last weekend by Huddersfield. I have heard Gary Neville this week speaking about the culture of Manchester United and I can see a lot of similarities between Wigan and Manchester United. I really expect Wigan to bounce back in this game and to put on a decent score.
TERRY PREDICTS: Wigan by 24 points
Barrie says: Unfortunately for the London Broncos it doesn't get much easier for them. They were well beaten last week by Wakefield and the most demoralising aspect was being nilled. I don't think they will be nilled again but I think Wigan, on the back of what Huddersfield did to them, will be super motivated or perhaps just as motivated as the Leeds Rhinos in the World Club Challenge. I am going to go with Wigan to beat the Broncos by a hefty score - 50 points.
BARRIE PREDICTS: Wigan by 50 points
Terry says: You look at this Giants side and it is hard to find a weak link. Their strengths are obviously in the forwards but they also have Danny Brough's kicking game which has been exceptional. When we look at Wakefield, well their strengths are their back three of Peter Fox, Ben Cockayne and Richard Mathers. They will be on the receiving end of Brough's kicks so if they can have a good game and set the platform early on then they could put up a fight. I just can't see past Huddersfield at the moment though.
TERRY PREDICTS: Huddersfield by 18 points
Barrie says: I was really impressed with Huddersfield last week. I thought they really took Wigan to the cleaners after going down by 10 points in the first 20 minutes or so. They showed good character to come back. But I have been impressed by the Wildcats this year. They have a good team spirit; Tim Smith is pulling all the strings. I think all the matches - bar one - home advantage will be crucial. There is not much difference between the two teams.
BARRIE PREDICTS: Wakefield by 10 points
Terry says: Castleford coach Ian Millward will be telling his side that they have to be ready for a tough encounter. They will be hoping that they play in heavy conditions as Catalans will e used to a firm ground. For Catalan there is still no Scott Dureau and Brent Webb will also be missing. They are lucky to have Leon Pryce who only got a warning for his late/kickout challenge or whatever you want to call it on Riche Myler last week.
If I was going to put my money on this game I would look at the conditions. If it is going to be a heavy ground then I would go for Castleford, but if it is going to be a firm ground then I fancy Catalan. I'm going to go for Castleford though.
TERRY PREDICTS: Castleford by six points
Barrie says: Catalans will be missing Brent Webb this week after he was embroiled in all the shenanigans last week. He was sinbinned twice in the same game which is quite some feat. Cas played really well last weekend and again Bradford were exceptional on the night but were it not for a couple of sinbinnings, Jamie Ellis and Justin Carney, at crucial times the game may not have run away from them. I am going to go with a home win.
BARRIE PREDICTS: Castleford by 10 points
