The final match in this set of Super League fixtures comes from the John Smith’s Stadium as the Huddersfield Giants welcome the Widnes Vikings to town.
Huddersfield’s season hasn’t yet got going with two defeats to their name so far and they go up against a Widnes side who should still be high on confidence after their opening two wins despite being derailed slightly with a defeat at Salford last weekend.
Huddersfield have put up a couple of gutsy displays so far this season but they have lost to St Helens and Wigan. Defensively they have looked ok but they have lacked something at the other end of the park but that is no surprise with the players they are missing.
The main absence is of course Danny Brough, a man who would be a huge loss to any side. With that in mind it isn’t ideal that Luke Robinson was forced to retire. Craig Huby and Scott Grix are among a fairly lengthy Giants injury list at the present time.
Widnes will have been disappointed to lose to Salford last week but only Hull FC and Salford have scored more points than them going into Sunday and the Red Devils have played an extra match so there is nothing wrong with the Vikings from an attacking point of view.
Chris Dean has come into the Widnes squad for this match but really it will be all about Kevin Brown, back on his old stomping ground, and this potent Vikings backline if they are going to get the two points out of this one.
It is hard to put a figure on the impact these injuries are having for the Giants and while they are working hard and defending so well the amount of defending they are doing is having a distinct impact on their attacking play which is far from ideal.
Widnes seem to have both bases covered be it defence or attack and I just have to back them here. I would normally back them to win this match but they are away from home and Huddersfield do defend well so the eight point start – huge in its own right – is the safer play here.
WON – Back Widnes (+8) to beat Huddersfield for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Ladbrokes
Back them here:
