The final third of the Super League XXIX season begins on Thursday evening when two sides outside the playoff zone and keen to close the gap between them and the top six meet when the Huddersfield Giants host the Leeds Rhinos.
This has been a season to forget for the Giants so far but there were positive signs of life last week while the Rhinos certainly haven’t performed to expectation and will be looking for a much needed change of form here.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Sky Sports Action channel with the build-up to the contest beginning at 7.30pm ahead of the 8pm kick off.
Huddersfield Giants
When the season got underway the Huddersfield Giants would have been expecting a lot more from their efforts than just seven wins from their opening 18 matches and ultimately that has accounted for coach Ian Watson who was relieved of his duties a couple of weeks ago. That didn’t bring about an immediate change in fortunes but to be fair to the Giants they went well enough in defeat to Leigh before they got the better of Salford last week.
That kept their feint hopes of reaching the top six alive but realistically you’ve got to think the last nine matches are all about rebuilding and making sure that they are good to go from game one next season. Huddersfield have needed to improve defensively and so it is to their credit that in the two games under Luke Robinson they have only conceded 28 points so if they can keep that record up then you would imagine they can finish the campaign well.
Leeds Rhinos
The Leeds Rhinos have spent far too long outside the playoff places over the last few seasons and they find themselves outside it again this time around. That has led to them changing coach with Rohan Smith sent on his way and Brad Arthur has come in as a temporary replacement but is yet to really see an overturn in fortunes and given that there are huge doubts over his long-term future already you just wonder whether Leeds have packed it in.
The Leeds attack has been a real problem this season. Only the bottom three in the competition have put up fewer points than the Rhinos this term and there is way too much quality in the Leeds ranks for that to be the case so they seriously need to find a spark in the offensive part of the field otherwise they will be watching on when the postseason comes along. Defensively Leeds have been competent but you have to put up points in the summer months.
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Team News
Oliver Wilson has been ruled out of the remainder of the season with an injury so Connor Carr has come into the squad for him. Luke Robinson also has the returning Thomas Deakin to pick from after he has returned from a HIA.
Brad Arthur has been forced to make one change to his squad for this match with David Fusitu’a out with an injury so Ben Littlewood returns to the setup. Sam Esah Jr has had his loan deal from Wigan extended so he can feature.
Betting
These are two pretty poor sides based on what we’ve seen so far this season but I think there has been more signs of life of the Huddersfield Giants under Luke Robinson than there has been the Leeds Rhinos under Brad Arthur. The expectation is that the Australian will get a tune out of the Rhinos but none has been coming so far and one problem he will have here is Leeds have been a mess away from home for quite a while now.
They have lost their last four away from Headingley this season and won just three of eight overall and eight of the last 21 over the last two campaigns. Huddersfield have won their last two matches and seem to have a bit more dynamism about them when they go forward at the minute. Their defence has clearly improved under Luke Robinson so in a match which I don’t think is going to hit the heights or be one to remember, the Giants look the value play.
Tips
Back Huddersfield Giants to beat Leeds Rhinos for a 3/10 stake at 2.40 with Spreadex
