Dragons roaring

A: Catalans were the most popular team at the weekend having been four-point underdogs when the markets were first formed over a month ago. They eventually went off four-point favourites after an impressive pre-season and Bradford's mounting injury problems. The result was never in doubt for the punters as the French coasted to an impressive 20-0 lead by half-time, eventually winning by 22 points.

Q: Catalan top the table, albeit on points difference, after their demolition of Bradford - have you seen much for them to go clinch a top four spot or go all the way to Old Trafford?

A: Catalans have been really popular in the regular season without the Top 4 market (Warrington, Wigan, St. Helens & Leeds). Before the weekend they were 10/3 for this market and after a really impressive performance with a number of players missing they are now 7/4 favourites. There's a long way to go before the Grand Final in October but Trent Robinson's men have been the major ante-post gamble of the season so far, being supported from 25/1 into their current price of 12/1.

Q: Wigan's defeat by Huddersfield was undoubtedly the biggest shock of the round. Has that affected the overall market in anyway even at this early stage?

A: Wigan have drifted quite significantly from 2/1 out to 7/2 for the regular season title as there were doubts beforehand about the quality of their recruits for this season and their performance was really disappointing against a massively understrength Huddersfield side. It doesn't get any easier as Leeds visit the DW Stadium on Saturday and even though it's only round two this does look like a must-win fixture for Shaun Wane's men.

Q: Young Leeds centre Kallum Watkins was one of the stars of the opening weekend with a hat-trick against Hull KR. Have you seen money for him as the league's top try scorer?

A: We've cut him to 9/1 from his opening quote of 20/1 and have subsequently seen money for him but it's early days in this market with a number of players yet to get off the mark. The main mover in this market has been Castleford's Richard Owen, after an impressive two-try performance at Salford, tthe full-back is now available at 20/1 having opened at 66/1.

Q: Have there been any other market moves after the initial exchanges?

A:Huddersfield are proving to be very popular with a 14-point start in the season handicap market and after a firstt round away win it's easy to see why.

The main dangers look to be Leeds with an eight-point start and Catalans, with a 10-point start, after both recorded victories of their own at the weekend.

Q: Looking ahead to the weekend action there's a real cracker in store at the DW Stadium where Wigan take on Leeds. Do you expect a reaction from the Warriors, and is that reflected in the market?

A: Wigan will be fired up for this game and they will be looking for a positive reaction to their opening-round defeat. I had this as Leeds receiving an eight-point start before the opening round but after the first set of results we have gone with a four-point start for Brian McDermott's side.

Q: Salford's trip to St Helens on Friday is the other televised game. It's difficult to hold out much hope for the visitors with Saints out to celebrate their first Super League game at their new home...

A: It'll be a carnival atmosphere on Friday night in front of the Sky camera's at Langtree Park and the only hope for Salford is that Saints get carried away with the occasion and try to be too fancy. Royce Simmons will be drilling it into his young side to keep to the game plan and I could see this being a very one-sided contest as Salford (+24) were poor last weekend, scoring the fewest points of any side.

Q: Where else are you seeing money in terms of this weekend's action?

A: It's been the usual suspects with St Helens, Huddersfield and Warrington proving very popular, even though they are having to give up handicap starts in the twenties. Catalans are also proving popular for their game against Hull with the French side currently eight-point favourites.

Q: Any tips for the weekend?

A: The most interesting match for me is the Castleford v Bradford encounter as this is traditionally a very high scoring fixture - 64 in 2011, 50 in 2010 and 54 in 2009. Ideally I'd be looking for an overs bet on the points market as I'm not convinced the Tigers have rectified their defensive frailties from last season and Bradford definitely haven't going on last Sunday's 12-34 defeat to Catalans.