Four became three on Thursday night as St Helens’ defeat to Warrington took them out of the ‘Shield Shootout’ picture which leaves us with two huge matches on Friday to determine who tops the Super League pile going into the playoffs.
The TV match on Friday has everything on the line. Huddersfield go into it knowing if they win they will secure a home semi-final next week and were they to win and Wigan lose the Giants will land the leaders shield too.
Leeds top the pile going into the match and are the only side in control of their own destiny. A win here will ensure they land their second piece of silverware of the season as well as gain home advantage for next week so both sides are going to be bang up for this.
Huddersfield have really come alive in this Super 8s series. They’ve now won seven of their last eight matches and look confident and perhaps most importantly of all they have a balanced threat in their attack which is making them much harder to defend against.
Leeds are the exact opposite. Since the Challenge Cup final they have collapsed. They’ve lost their last three matches albeit all against sides who’ve had little to lose. The real concern is that they are looking a tired side and their season appears to be mirroring last season where they couldn’t find a win after Wembley success.
Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson welcomes Brett Ferres back from injury for this match which is a huge lift going into the postseason. Eorl Crabtree is also back in the squad as the Giants look to put a marker down here.
Leeds will most likely be able to call upon Rob Burrow for this match. He has missed the last few matches but with Leeds crying out for a hooker his return to action might have to come sooner than Brian McDermott would like. Brett Delaney misses out which isn’t ideal.
These two sides have met twice this season already. They met early in the campaign at Headingley where Leeds won by four points and they tied in Huddersfield later in the season.
Leeds were in exceptional form at the time of both of those matches but they are not in that sort of form any more so that has to be a positive for the Giants.
Now is really the time Huddersfield have to prove they are the real deal. The last season or two have seen them dominate in the regular season but freeze in the playoffs. That is the next level they need to take and a win here would give them a lot of confidence to take into next week.
This one should be full of blood and thunder but I’m expecting a really high quality game of rugby given what is at stake. This will have a playoff intensity to it and it will be interesting if Huddersfield can step up to the plate.
I think they can. I think their defence is performing better than Leeds right now and in Danny Brough and Jamie Ellis they have a couple of players on top form setting up chances for the potent tryscorers out wide. At even money I’ll take the hosts here.
One other bet I like here is Jermaine McGillvary to score a try at any time. The Huddersfield winger is in the form of his life at the minute and is being touted for a place in the England squad later in the year. He has scored 12 tries in his last six matches including at least one in all of those games so he’s in red hot form and with Ryan Hall sometimes making questionable decisions defensively McGillvary should go in again here.
Back Huddersfield to beat Leeds for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Stan James
Back J.McGillvary Anytime Tryscorer for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Stan James
Blog RL YTD: +16.99pts
Kevshat
Great shout on Warrington last night.
Agree with you on tonight’s too but have taken the +1 on Huddersfield with betway at10/11 to cover the draw.
Cheers
P.Shan.
Cheers! Might be a wise move to cover the draw to be fair. Should be a belting game!