Wigan Warriors vs Salford Red Devils Predictions: Champs to cruise to League Leaders’ Shield

Betfred Super League champions Wigan Warriors will clinch the League Leaders’ Shield with a draw or victory over a Salford Red Devils side who have cemented their place in the play-offs and in doing so opt to field a hugely under-strength side at the Brick on Thursday (kick-off 20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports Main Event).

Paul Rowley’s eyebrow-raising squad selection seems certain to see the Warriors win back-to-back League Leaders’ Shields for the first time ever, and take pole position ahead of Hull KR leading into the play-offs. My Wigan Warriors vs Salford Red Devils predictions will therefore come as little surprise.

Wigan Warriors vs Salford Red Devils Odds

Rarely have we seen such one-sided odds in the match result market, with Wigan 1/1000 to win the match in light of the Salford team news. The Red Devils’ 22/1 price implies a 4.3% chance of victory, which seems to be on the generous side. The 25/1 offered on the draw is also a little longer than you normally find for a Super League clash.

Team News

The Red Devils travel to Wigan with their reserve side set to play against the champions, as they prepare for a play-off fixture of their own next week which looks likely to be at home, but could end up being away if results don’t fall kindly in this final round.

The likes of Ryan Brierley, Chris Hankinson, Marc Sneyd, Kallum Watkins, Nene Macdonald, Tim Lafai, Deon Cross, Ethan Ryan and Joe Mellor are all left at home. In fact, it would be easier to list the usual starters who are retained in the squad, who are Oli Partington – set to leave the club for Catalans Dragons next year, Joe Shorrocks, half-back Jayden Nikorima and prop Joe Bullock.

So instead we will see the likes of Adam Sidlow – just back from a loan spell at League One champions Oldham, and almost all of the usual Salford reserve team, including Reserves Player of the Year Charlie McCurrie, whose dad Steve played for Warrington Wolves and Widnes Vikings.

Rugby League Odds

Wigan won’t let their own standards slip ahead of their title defence in the play-offs, and go strong again.

In fact, head coach Matt Peet names the same squad as last week, when the Warriors put seven tries past Leeds Rhinos in a 38-0 win. Full-back Jai Field and half-back Beven French are getting better with every game back since their respective injuries, and this could be a very, very big win.

Wigan by 51+ points @ 19/10

Given this is the champions against a reserve team, I was hoping to take Salford on the handicap, but I can’t even find a way to do that justice given the likely disparity in the two teams named.

Wigan did not allow the Rhinos to score a point last week, and they were opponents who fielded their strongest possible side and could yet sneak into the top six.

There is no point even going back through the stats and previous meetings here – Wigan have won their last 11 meetings with Salford by the way. This is going to be ugly.

As such I’m backing the home side to win by a half-century or more. I hope I’m wrong.

Junior Nsemba Anytime Tryscorer @ 8/11

I backed the prolific try-scoring forward Junior Nsemba to cross last week against Leeds, and of course his red-hot run finally came to an end.

He is one of the stand-out emerging talents in this Wigan side. This has been a breakthrough year for the young forward with an eye for a try.

The rising star was on three tries in three games from the pack prior to his blank against the Rhinos, and coming up against a Salford reserves side is exactly what the doctor ordered to get the tries flowing again ahead of the play-offs.

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