Easter Monday has a full programme of Betfred Super League and the Betfred Championship fixtures with the re-arranged Ladbrokes Challenge Cup game between Hunlet and Bradford Bulls also taking place.
The first Super League game kicks-off at 13:30 as Castleford Tigers take on the Warrington Wolves, the same time as the top of the table clash between Toulouse and Toronto gets under way in the Championship.
SKY are broadcasting two Super League games with Widnes Vikings looking to stop the relentless march of St Helens and the Catalans Dragons seeking a second 2018 victory at home against the Huddersfield Giants.
Castleford Tigers have new signing Liam Watts likely to debut against Warrington with James Green making way. The Wolves are up to third after their win over the Vikings and also make just one change with Dominic Crosby coming into the nineteen man squad in place of Morgan Smith. The bookies believe that the Wolves have an uphill challenge ahead of them and are backing the Tigers for the win.
There are three games kicking off at 3pm, the first being between Hull derby winners FC and the Wakefield Trinity side who lost narrowly to Castleford Tigers last Thursday evening. Lee Radford has made a number of changes bringing Jack Logan and Jansin Turgut into his squad. Jamie Shaul, Carlos Tuimavave and Jordan Lane are all rested. Chris Chester has also rolled the dice with Max Jowitt, Jordan Crowther, James Batchelor and Chris Annakin all having the chance of a first appearance of the season. The home side are the favourites to secure the points.
After picking up just one point in their last two games the Champions are back at Headingley to take on the Safford Red Devils. The Rhinos will be buoyed by the return of Stevie Ward, Liam Sutcliffe and Jimmy Keinhorst replacing Mullally, Jones-Buchanan and Brad Dwyer with hooker Matt Parcell likely to be in the starting line-up. Ian Watson’s Salford has just one change to the side that hammered the Catalans Dragons with an extra forward in George Griffin, replacing winger Jake Bibby. The bookies can’t see past a Rhinos victory.
Hull KR will look to put their derby disappointment behind them as they travel to the DW to take on a second placed Wigan Warriors, themselves still smarting from a derby day loss. Shaun Wane makes three changes with Gabe Hamlin, Josh Ganson and Dan Sarginson making the squad in place of Sean O’Loughlin, Taulima Tautai and Josh Woods. Sam Tomkins is also in the squad after recovering from the virus which made him a late withdrawal on Friday. The Robins will once again be without talisman Shaun Lunt and Danny McGuire and coach Sheens brings Will Dagger and Will Oakes into the squad as their replacements. Wigan are odds-on favourites for the win.
The first televised game kicks off at five past three with the league leaders St Helens the big favourites to get the points at the Widnes. Widnes are looking for back-to-back home wins and to put Good Friday’s Warrington loss behind them. Saints are unchanged from the derby win and Justin Holbrook will home to keep his side four points clear come the end of the Easter period.
The afternoon’s final game is a battle between tenth and twelfth when the Giants make the trip to Perpignan to play the Dragons. The bookies can’t choose between the sides so it might be worth backing a second successive draw for the Giants. Huddersfield roll into town with the addition of Innes Senior, joining his twin brother Louis in the squad. Steve McNamara has named an unchanged squad for what is looking like a must-win game.
The match of the day in the Championship has the top two meeting in the south of France as Toulouse host Toronto. Barrow Raiders play a pointless Swinton Lions while seventh placed Dewsbury Rams host fifth placed Halifax. Leigh Centurions have a massive task at home to the London Broncos, looking to get back to winning ways after Fridays defeat and Featherstone Rovers make the trip to Rochdale to play the Hornets. Sheffield Eagles will be boosted by their win over Rochdale on Friday as they host the Batley Bulldogs.
Hunslet is the venue for the one re-arranged Challenge Cup game as the Bradford Bulls roll into town looking to secure a fifth round game against the Warrington Wolves.