Saints favourites for Grand Final victory

Correspondent

St Helens have been installed as odds-on favourites to beat Leeds Rhinos on Saturday and win the 2011 Engage Super League Grand Final.

Saints, who are making their sixth successive appearance in the Old Trafford title decider, are quoted at odds of 4/6 by Super League’s official betting partner William Hill to secure the Super League trophy for the first time since 2006.

However William Hill are expecting one of the closest finals in recent times and have Leeds at 5-4 to deny Saints for a fourth time, having emerged victorious in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Grand Finals.

Leeds have a two-point start on the handicap coupon, the first time Saints have been given a negative start since Leeds kicked off the 2008 final with an eight-point start.

Saints and England front row duo James Roby and James Graham have been installed as joint favourites to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man-of-the-match in the Grand Final, with William Hill pricing both players at 6/1. Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield and hooker Danny Buderus are seen as the most likely players in the Rhinos camp to scoop the coveted individual award, with both priced at 7/1.

Saints winger Jamie Foster has been priced as a 9/1 favourite to score the opening try of the 2011 Grand Final, narrowly in front of Leeds winger Ryan Hal, who is priced at 10/1.

William Hill are offering Rugby League fans a series of special bets during this season’s finale, including:

Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Double Barrels –  Jones-Buchanan, Jones-Bishop and McCarthy-Scarsbrook to combine for two-plus tries;

Jonny be Good – Jonny Lomax and Jon Wilkin both to score;

They Think It’s Hall Over – Ryan Hall to score try in last 10 minutes and Leeds to win match;

Sin-field of Dreams – Leeds to win with a Sinfield drop-goal or penalty kick breaking the deadlock.

A full list of betting odds and terms for the Grand Final can be seen at William Hill’s official website http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/e/2402870/St-Helens-v-Leeds.html