Right Said Fred: A weekend of shocks in the Betfred Super League

It's all change on the betting front after two totally unexpected results in Betfred Super League that have dramatically affected top of the table standings.

Favourites to be champions once again Wigan were hammered 40-4 at home by fast emerging Warrington at the same time as Leigh comprehensively beat woeful Saints.

Betfred now have the Warriors 10/11 favourites to win the Grand Final with Wire the big movers in to 7/2, St Helens out to 11/2, Hull KR 7/1, Catalans at 10/1  - and my home town club Salford at 33/1.

Fair enough seasoned Wire fans have seen it all before.

But you know I am getting to think great things are just around the corner for the Wolves who went top of Betfred Super League ahead of Thursday's Wigan-Huddersfield clash.

To beat arguably this campaign's stand out team Wigan so convincingly at their place sent a message to their rivals ... not least high-riding opponents Hull KR who are at the Halliwell Jones on Friday.

Saints who are going from bad to worse were stunned by an equally convincing defeat at Leigh in the last round to set up a fascinating end of season battle to achieve a top six finish.

There is so much going right at Warrington with Aussie talisman Matt Dufty in rip roaring form with 14 tries already this season.

And then there is the signing of England International  John Bateman, who is due to make his Wire debut on Friday after returning to these shores from West's Tigers.

It's marvellous to see how Warrington coach Sam Burgess is determined to not get carried away by the marauding way the team has got to the top of the table.

Instead Burgess, who has signed an extension to his  contract this week, hailed the way the players stuck to their game plan in the morale boosting  triumph at Wigan.

But he did have time to joke about "good looking lad" Arron Lindop who was spotted wearing Calvin Klein underpants during the game.

Burgess reckons the iconic clothing company should use Lindop to promote their gear before adding: "He needs to work on his six pack though!"

So for Friday Wire are 4/11 for both points, HKR 9/4  - and for new boy  Bateman to score the opening try that's 20/1 at Betfred.

Here Paul Sculthorpe, the Oldham born Betfred TV rugby league pundit, has his take on the shock decline of St Helens:

"I think like every Saints fan either in attendance or tuning in on TV, that game on Friday was a very  tough watch.

" It was a game I was worried about due to current form, and Leigh is never an easy place to go. But, never did I expect a 46-4 hammering. That is not St Helens RFC.

"Not only were we on the wrong end of an horrendous scoreline, but the players out there managed to create a piece of history-  the first time Saints have lost five games in a row in the Super League era, and the worst run of defeats since 1986.

"If that doesn’t give the players a kick up the backside then  I don’t know what will.

"I’ve obviously seen a lot said about head coach Paul Wellens and his position at the club. Unfortunately for Wello, this is something that comes with the job and coaches are all too often an easy target when things aren’t going well, never mind bloody awful.

"But, to see things like he has ‘lost the changing room’ etc, is just ridiculous. Wello is one of, if not the most respected person at the club, ever. His players are 100% behind him, and yes he’s played with many of the current team but has the ability to hold that player/coach relationship, and say what needs to be said. He is also a very smart coach, both technically and tactically.

'How about, as per my comments a few weeks back, some of the players are simply not good enough? How’s about, a lot of the players who were a major part of more than four titles in a row are aging and not the players they were. Many who have missed as many games as they have played in. That’s not a dig, that’s fact and it comes with years of playing…trust me I know.

"Wello doesn’t miss 70 plus tackles, drop simple balls, and fluff clear tries. Also indiscipline when things aren’t going to plan.

'In regards to the way the team play, they are given ‘shape’, which to be honest won’t be much different than how most teams play. It’s then up to the players on the park to execute what is in front of them. This is something we are unable to do presently. There is a big issue at half back, where most of the direction is given. These have a massive influence on everyone else on the team.

"Paul’s job is to therefore decide who’s up to it, and ultimately who plays. Unfortunately with the amount of injuries and lack of strength in depth this is pretty much out of his hands. On the plus side, the introduction of youngsters like Noah Stephens, Harry Robertson and Johnny Vaughan has given these boys invaluable experience for their careers going forward. However, the nature of professional sport is results, and at the moment we look a long way off.

"To add to our misery, it looks like Jack Welsby could be missing for up to eight weeks with a torn hamstring, and now Jonny Lomax, and by far our best player this year Mark Percival will miss the trip to Hull via suspension.

"So, it’s off to the KCOM Stadium on the west side of Hull on Saturday... and  a must-win game for Saints.

"FC have had a tough season themselves, currently sitting 11th in the Betfred Super League table. However, despite losing three of their last four games, remember they did beat current champions  Wigan and have seen a vast improvement in performances. They will, like Leigh see this as an opportunity to kick Saints while they are down.

"It looks like the travelling visitors could be boosted by the return of a couple of long term casualties, and much needed experience. It was also good to see both Tommy Makinson and Matt Whitley return last Friday despite the result, and no doubt both will be better for the blow out this week.

"I am sticking with the Saints, and back them to turn things around. I’ll go for a win by more than ten points which is a generous 2/1 at Betfred. "

Willie Shaw spends his working day ferrying passengers to and from Edinburgh Airport.

But now the big hearted 64 year old grandad can join the jet set - thanks to a £1 bet at his local Betfred shop in Bathgate, West Lothian.

That tiny wager made on the cuff was on the bookies' Nifty 50 numbers game.

And thanks to bookie boss Fred Done's initiative he didn't actually win with one of his six numbers NOT being drawn...but he picked up the £10,000 consolation prize.

Jubilant Willie said: "I lost a fiver on the Grand National two years ago and never had a bet since.

"I happened to call in the bookies and wondered about the Nifty 50 draw being made on the TV and got myself a lucky dip for a pound.

"I'm glad I did because now half of it is being used to go on a family holiday to Spain...with spends," added Willie who hasn't had time to celebrate as before his good fortune he had volunteered to do some overtime at work.

On the same day a 70 year old customer at the Betfred shop in Ribbleton in Preston won £10,000 with £2,500  bonus from  a £1 bet, also on the Nifty 50.

The retired textile worker like Willie opted for a lucky dip. The Betfred regular is going to spend his windfall on a holiday in India.

When we launched Nifty 50 we  wanted more big winners from small stakes - and that’s just what's happening with the game proving increasingly popular.

Paul Churchill is off to Vegas after winning £25,000 with Betfred from a ONE POUND bet on the New York Lotto.

His four random numbers were drawn winning the mechanic fitter in the nuclear industry the huge windfall.

The delighted 44 year old from the West Midlands said: "I go fifty fifty with my father but there is plenty from this big win  to refurbish my new flat and go to Vegas with some friends.

"I had some beers by way of celebration but that's standard for a weekend! They were random numbers that came to me. I opted for the New York because of the odds." Congratulations to this regular online customer. My message to you Paul is to  try and take Vegas to the cleaners just like you've emptied my pockets!