Hull FC to win the Challenge Cup and Grand Final? – List of season specials bookies are offering

Sometimes betting on bog-standard eventualities are not enough. Anyone can bet on who will score the most tries, win the most games, the position of X club at the end of the year etc. But for those who want to add a bit of spice and stretch their luck even more, then the bookies cater for this also.

Most of these are designed to be little more than plausible, but actually, some of these could actually happen so if readers want to get in now then there is no time like the present. Needless to say though, don’t go mad, otherwise it’s no fun. 

Below are the eleven season specials that the bookies are offering this year. 

Any Catalans player in the Super League Dream Team- 4/6

Only five players from Catalans have ever made the Super League Dream Team in the honours history: Clint Greenshields in 2008, Scott Dureau and Steve Menzies in 2011, Scott Dureau again in 2012, Elliot Whitehead in 2014, and finally Zeb Taia in 2018. With Israel Folau not announced in the Dragons squad for this season you would say their best player to get in the Dream Team has gone, but Catalans still have some talent with the likes of James Maloney, Josh Drinkwater, Mike McMeeken, and Michael Mcllorum who could achieve selection. 

Any Leigh player in the Super League Dream Team- 9/2

The new boys to Super League for 2021 will want to impress and after being out of action for so long they definitely didn’t disgrace themselves with a 25-24 win in their friendly against St. Helens. Their squad boasts familiar names to Super League fans and with Liam Hood doing great things with the Centurions, there is a chance that Leigh can have a man in the Dream Team. 

Bevan French Man of Steel and Wigan Grand Final winners- 22/1

These odds are surprising because they are very generous. Wigan will more than likely be in the Grand Final again with Saints as their opponents, but Bevan French has some added competition now with the likes of Josh Reynolds and Greg Inglis coming in to bolster the southern hemisphere roster that already boasted Aidan Sezer. The race for Man of Steel will be very interesting this year. 

Warrington to win the Challenge Cup and Grand Final- 28/1

Warrington have been involved in six Challenge Cups in the Super League era, winning four, and have attended four Grand Finals, but have yet to get over the winning post. Warrington, as always, will be wanting to put in a big shift this year, but they have to have something held back in reserve if they want to get to both of these finals this year. 28/1 for Warrington to do the double. 

Daryl Clark, Aidan Sezer, and Greg Inglis to make the Super League Dream Team – 40/1

Daryl Clark and Aidan Sezer have been in the Dream Team in 2019 and 2020 respectively and both will be in contention for this year’s selection, but Greg Inglis is yet to be tested out on the pitch for the Wolves. No one can doubt his playing record to date, that much is fact, but Super League is a completely different competition. However, he’s a professional so it is doubtful he won’t come out and play like he always has. An interesting bet this one, but one that’s not that outlandish despite the odds. 

Ash Handley, Konrad Hurrell, and Aidan Sezer all to make the Super League Dream Team – 60/1

This is also an interesting prospect. With Richard Agar admitting in an interview the day after Leeds’s loss to the Giants that Handley is one of their best players, it bodes well for the winger to get the nod for the second consecutive year. The ‘Hurrell-cane’ is one of the most popular players in Super League and also achieved selection for the Dream Team last year. All he has to do is just keep on doing what he’s doing and he will achieve a hat-trick of appearances. Aidan Sezer, much the same, as he will also be hoping to reclaim his 2020 spot and with Huddersfield looking to shake things up a bit this year it will only improve his chances. 

Blake Austin Man of Steel and Warrington to win the Grand Final – 66/1

Blake Austin is one of the best signings the Wolves have ever made but he has never won the Man of Steel. Similarly, Warrington have never been champions of Super League. Yes, it could happen this year, any one of these bookies specials could happen this year, but with this one, other options are preferred. If anyone fancies it though, 66/1 is your shot. 

Aidan Sezer Man of Steel and Ash Handley regular season top try scorer – 66/1

With Ash Handley possibly out for a large part of the season or at least the first few rounds, the young man will have to really play out of his skin to get top try scorer for the second year running. His injury, as this is being written, is yet to be confirmed by the Rhinos so it is possible that this could become a moot point. Sezer came very close to clinching the Man of Steel last year and because there has never been a player to win the award the next year after their first since Paul Sculthorpe in 2002, it’s very likely Sezer will be up there again. 

Leeds to win the Challenge Cup and Grand Final- 80/1

Leeds in Super League have always had a bit of a rough relationship with the Challenge Cup. It alluded them for fifteen years before they won in 2014 and they would win it again as part of their treble winning season the year after. But since then they have put in some shocking performances, none more so than losing to Championship side Bradford Bulls in 2019 which goes straight to the top of the list. However, they are now the defending champions of the Challenge Cup after lifting their first piece of silverware for three years. Could Leeds repeat history and do the double again? Possibly. Could they win the Grand Final this year too? No. Unless Wigan and Saints crash out somewhere in the qualifiers, it’s hard to see Leeds winning the Grand Final. 

Ash Handley top season try scorer (regular season) and Leeds to win the Grand Final- 100/1

Again, due to the injury to Ash Handley, it may put a dampener on this prospect but as has been written previously, Leeds will struggle to win the Grand Final this year. 

Hull FC to win the Challenge Cup and the Grand Final- 100/1 

Hull have proved themselves to be better suited to the Challenge Cup than the Grand Final. Their last appearance at Old Trafford was in 2006 against St. Helens, but they have done the back-to-back in the Challenge Cup. With the Airlie Birds attempting to put their performance down where it matters this season with new signings and a new coach, they may come closer to doing this than they ever have done. Only time will tell.