Super League play-off prediction as Kevin Brown selects "too classy" favourites

The former England stand-off, who starred with the likes of Wigan, Warrington and Huddersfield, has assessed all of the six Betfred Super League play-off contenders on the road to Old Trafford

Kevin Brown reckons former club Wigan finally have the tools to win Betfred Super League and are “too classy” for anyone else in the title chase.

The ex-England stand-off, now a leading television pundit, has seen enough to believe Matty Peet’s side can end St Helens’ four-year domination of the competition. They won the League Leaders’ Shield with Friday’s tight victory at Leigh so sit out the first week of the play-offs and gain a home semi-final as reward. Wigan haven’t been beaten in the league for almost three months and World Cup finalist Brown, 38, told Mirror Sport: “They just find a way to win.

“I do think they are favourites now. Just. They have that much quality - all of the sides in these play-offs do - but Wigan have just timed their run to perfection. They have that confidence with the way they’re playing now. I think they’ll be a little bit too classy for everyone. What Matty Peet has done with the Bevan French scenario - where he’s playing half-back having switched from full-back and wing - is great and they have peaked at the right time.”

Wigan haven’t won Super League since 2018 when Brown was in the Warrington side they beat at Old Trafford. Champions Saints host Warrington - who narrowly finished sixth after leading Super League in April - in an eliminator on Saturday. Brown, who started out at Wigan in 2003, added: “I don't think there’s any tougher prospect than going away to Saints.

“And I don’t think Warrington can do a job. They’ve run out of steam. I’m not sure if George Williams will play and if he does play how fit he’ll be. Saints are too good for Wolves. I don’t think the confidence or continuity in attack is there for Warrington.

“If they do go behind, I don’t think they have that mental strength to turn it around and have trust that they will come back. They’ve limped into the play-offs and I get what people say when they say they are littered with stars and will be dangerous. But I’ve just not seen it for a long time.”

And the ex-Huddersfield skipper, who played more than 400 career games before retiring with Salford two years ago, feels Hull KR will win the other knock-out against Challenge Cup holders Leigh on Friday. He said: “Leigh are dangerous with the ball, very strong defensively and have already got some silverware so they will be hungry for a bit more. It could go right down to the wire but Hull KR have home advantage and that’s huge.

"I think they’ll pip it. KR was always a tough place to go when I was playing but even more so now with the fact that they’re getting so many numbers down there. They’ll owe Leigh with that sense of what happened at Wembley still in their head.”

Catalans finished second and, therefore, are well-placed, too, with a home semi-final meaning they stand just 80 minutes from Old Trafford. Brown said: "Catalans are very strong. They've probably let themselves down in recent weeks when they dropped off and will feel a little disappointed they didn't maintain top spot and get the League Leaders’ Shield.

"But, in saying that, the fact they've got so many players retiring and leaving like Mitchell Pearce, Sam Tomkins, Matt Whitley and some others, the emotional component that creates will give them an extra edge. I remember playing against Wigan when it was Shaun Wane’s last game as a coach in that 2018 Grand Final and you could feel and sense that emotional connection. I do think Catalans have got that.

"They’ll want to send them out on a high and they are quality; I watched them against Leeds and they absolutely tore them apart. When they put it together, some of the attacking they're doing is terrific. Add in Tomkins' kicking game, especially close to the line, and they have threat all over the field. If they can keep their best players on the field during this series they’ve as good a chance as anyone. But I still think Wigan."