Right Said Fred: Talking Betting With Betfred Boss Fred Done

I'm feeling just a little bit smug...and I bet you can't think why!

Not only did I predict in last week's column that my lifelong team United would raise their game and get something against Liverpool at Old Trafford but they actually won to go above our great rivals in the Premier League.

Now I know no one likes a clever devil so I'm only mentioning that fantastic victory the once!

But it's given me a warm glow especially as one of my favourite players Marcus Rashford  who hails from Wythenshawe and learnt his trade in the Reds academy was my man of the match.

Any more of this from Rashford and he'll be a shoe in for the World Cup in Qatar. But it's a completely different story for Harry Maguire, dropped on Monday and huge questions being asked already about whether Gareth Southgate will be leaving him at the departure gate.

As for another axed star Cristiano Ronaldo well I'm on record as saying he need a new challenge away from this new look team.

Monday’s 2-1 win has meant the Betfred odds on United being champions have been slashed from 125/1 to 50/1 and achieving a top four finish from 7/1 to 4/1. Meanwhile I wouldn't like to be in Southampton's shoes on Saturday against the rampant Reds who are odds on with us to win with Rashford 13/2 to score first

Turning to the Betfred Super League and

I don’t know Warrington boss Daryl Powell’s plans for the summer, but if he does what he’s done in the past and gets on his boat he’ll have plenty to contemplate ahead of the new season.

 He’s looking on the bright side – and he’s entitled to after a pretty grim debut season, in which he’s narrowly avoided being in a relegation dog fight, at the Halliwell Jones.

Toulouse are doomed having finished bottom of Betfred Super League – and, like the Wolves, Wakefield Trinity have struggled big time having only won eight of their 24 games.

But for Powell, he has the fantastic work of the club’s youth setup to fall back on.

He heaped praise on the efforts of the academy having introduced two starlets in Luke Thomas – a 19-year-old prop – and Adam Holroyd – an 18-year-old second-rower – into the fray at Leeds in Round 24.

Warrington went down to a narrow defeat at Headingley, but the teenagers certainly didn’t let their manager down.

Thomas, a Latchford Albion junior and already a Welsh international, almost scored with his first touch and made 36 metres in his promising first-team debut.

Meanwhile Holroyd, who has been outstanding in the table-topping academy team, was also introduced in the second half and made 42 metres with six carries.

That wasn’t all, for Powell also had two other potential stars of the future in Leon Hayes and Tom Whitehead within his 21-man travelling squad on Friday.

The Wire boss was naturally delighted, praising the quality of the youngsters coming through.

In fact, he was generally positive about his team’s efforts despite the 24-18 loss against the in-form Rhinos. 

Next up for Warrington is a Thursday night home game against Castleford.

The Wolves are 4/6 to pick up both points in what is sure to be a tough encounter with the Tigers locked in a three-way tussle with Leeds and the fast-improving Salford Red Devils for a top-six finish.

The Tigers, who have dipped out of the top-six having been beaten at Huddersfield last week, are 5/4 to win at the Halliwell Jones.

IT'S the big one if course on Friday. And Paul Sculthorpe, the Oldham born double Man of Steel winner and Betfred TV RL pundit reckons the Wigan-Saints clash will be a dress rehearsal for next month's Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Here's his viewpoint: 

"Saints have again been clearly the best team throughout the regular season, and are currently  six points clear at the top of the Betfred Super League table with only three rounds remaining. This meaning that we can secure the League Leaders title on Friday at the home of our fiercest rivals. What more reason do you need to perform?

"Both teams come into this game in great form. Saints continued their undefeated home record with a Tommy Makinson-inspired 38-12 destruction of Hull KR, while the Warriors pretty much sealed Toulouse’s Super League relegation  with 52-6 hammering at the DW Stadium.

"This will be the fourth derby of the year with Saints taking the four Betfred Super League points at home and Magic weekend, while the Warriors claimed the do-or-die Betfred Challenge Cup semi final at Elland Road. This tells me there will not be much between the teams come Friday evening. However, on paper and with both teams being at their best I not surprisingly tipping Saints to reign.

"The Warriors have a vastly improved attack in 2022 under Matty Peet, with far more expansion with the ball through half-backs Smith and Cust, and the obvious threat of speedsters Bevan French and Jai Field. The latter two have seemingly struck up a great relationship, working together causing no end of troubles for opposing defenders. I’m sure a big part of Saints coach  Kristian Woolf's game preparation is nullifying this through an aggressive yet controlled and organised defence.

"A big part of that preparation will be discipline too. These games are always fiery encounters, so it is important to meet fire with fire, but in composed yet merciless manner.

"Friday night's showdown  will be vital to Wigan as they look to secure the all important second place ahead of the Huddersfield Giants, and earn a week off before the knock-out semi-finals.

"Woolf, in his press conference also gave big wraps to two players who don’t always get the plaudits they deserve…Jake Wingfield, whom I praised in last week's column, also another one of my favourites, prop Matty Lees. Matty consistently puts his body on the line in both attack and defence, with a work rate second to none. He will be a key figure in Saints end of season finish.

"So who’s going to win!? As these games have proven so far this year it’s all on the day, and with two of the matches only being separated by two points I think we know this is going to be another close encounter.

"However, biased or not if Saints turn up with that ruthless defensive line speed, and clinical attacking flair, I think we have too much for the home side. I’m going for a Saints victory by eight points or more  (2/1 with title sponsors Betfred)

"In the rest of the Betfred Super League, the top four  places look pretty much confirmed with the out of sorts Catalan Dragons joining the Saints, Warriors and Giants. The remaining two places look like a straight shoot out between three teams. Two in great form, the Leeds Rhinos and the Salford Red Devils, and finally Lee Radford’s Castleford Tigers.

 "The Rhinos, who have won seven of their last eight  games have certainly looked a different side under new coach Rohan Smith and will be hoping to secure fifth  place, but face a tough challenge against the Giants in front of the Sky cameras on Thursday.

"The equally impressive Brody Croft-led Salford go into the final three rounds looking to secure a top-six finish ahead of the Tigers, whom the play in the penultimate fixture next weekend. This week they play Hull FC, a side I’m sure ready to see the back of 2022.  I’m tipping Paul Rowley’s men to add a bit more pain before they do.

"My tip for the top 6 finish is as follows-

1. Saints
2. Wigan
3. Huddersfield
4. Catalans
5. Leeds
6. Salford

Finally my congratulations to big Betfred winner Clarence Sinclair who was able to put a huge smile on his wife’s face after writing her a cheque for £40,000 so she can buy her dream car – a Mercedes.

Clarence, a 62-year-old plasterer from London, picked up a whopping £65,000 from two bets totaling £4 on the 49s numbers game.

He picked the numbers 6, 11, 22, 23 and 30 as the bonus ball – and after they all came in, he’s not been able to stop grinning.

He said: “I literally haven’t been able to stop smiling.

“My message to Fred Done is: Thank you very much… and watch out as I’m gonna do it again!”

It’s no idle boast, for Clarence won £10,000 last year using the same numbers on the same game, and now he’s looking for a hat-trick.

He added: “My wife is delighted because she’ll now be able to switch her BMW for a Mercedes, which she’s always wanted. I’m also giving some money to my daughter which she can put towards a deposit for a house.

“As for me, well I don’t really need anything but perhaps we’ll go on a little holiday – but not abroad because I don’t fancy all these airport queues. Maybe it’ll be a little trip to Cornwall." 

What a fantastic win for Clarence who is a popular customer at our shop in Norbury in London.

Well done, and it’s great to see you’re putting the money to good use getting your wife her dream car...and all for four quid.