Leeds Rhinos vs Salford Red Devils Predictions: A closely contested contest to end in Rhinos’ favor

Leeds Rhinos make their return to Betfred Super League action at Headingley Stadium, eager for a strong start to the season as they face Salford Red Devils. In the previous season, the two teams were closely matched in the standings, with just a two-point difference. As they kick off this encounter, both sides will be aiming for a positive beginning to the season. A detailed match preview is provided below, along with available betting opportunities.

Leeds Rhinos faced challenges in the previous season, failing to secure a playoff spot despite accumulating 24 points from 27 matches. They demonstrated both offensive and defensive prowess, scoring a total of 535 points while conceding 534 in the same period. In friendly matches against Bradford and Hunslet leading up to this fixture, Leeds Rhinos experienced losses, with their lone victory against Hull KR.

As they approach the upcoming season, Rhinos coach Rohan Smith has nearly a full squad to choose from, with Morgan Gannon, James McDonnell, and Tom Holroyd being the only unavailable players. The exciting half-back pairing of Croft and new signing Matt Frawley, along with lively full-back Lachie Miller, adds depth to the team. Notably, England stars Harry Newman and Mikolaj Oledzki are fit to start the season, providing Leeds with a different dynamic compared to the previous campaign when they missed the start due to injuries.

Salford Red Devils will approach this match as the underdog on the road but will carry confidence in their ability to display quality play. In the previous season, they finished two points above their direct opponent, Leeds, securing a total of 26 points from 27 matches at an average of 0.96 points per match. Leading up to this encounter, Salford Red Devils won only one of their last five matches in all competitions, which came after extra time against Warrington Wolves in the league's round of 2 action last season. The other matches resulted in losses to Wigan Warriors, Hull KR, Catalans Dragons, and St Helens.

Salford Red Devils have a relatively small squad, further stretched by the departures of Croft and Ackers, along with winger Joe Burgess leaving due to a disciplinary issue. The addition of Nene Macdonald brings experience, and the center will be eager to perform against his former club. Retaining Tim Lafai and Ryan Brierley means that Paul Rowley's side maintains the capability of scoring tries.

The two fixtures between the sides last season were closely contested, with Salford winning by 10 at Headingley Stadium, followed by the Rhinos exacting revenge with a two-point win at the Salford Stadium. However, Salford has undergone changes, losing key players from their spine, which has left their squad looking a bit thin after the departures of Croft, Ackers, Burgess, and Tyler Dupree.

Teams led by Rowley are known for playing with heart and flair, suggesting that there might be some points in this game. However, Leeds appears to have a higher level of class. While a new spine can sometimes take time to gel, the difference in this scenario is that Croft and Ackers bring a ready-made partnership from Salford that Leeds should quickly adapt to.