There is one more televised match in the Super League this weekend and it is a big one as Leigh Centurions host the Huddersfield Giants at the Leigh Sports Village. Leigh head into the match knowing if they win here they will be a Super League side next season. Huddersfield will be a win away from retaining their status if they win here. Lose and it could get very nervy for them.
Leigh Centurions
After dominating the Championship throughout the course of the season, Leigh have flown out of the traps in the qualifiers with four wins from four matches and another one will see them a fully blown Super League side next season without the need for going through the Million Pound Match.
Leigh are solid defensively and the power through the middle combined with the creativity they have in their back line makes them a dangerous side both for the remainder of this season and for next year should they finally make it back to the Super League full time.
Huddersfield Giants
Going into these qualifiers the Huddersfield Giants were under big pressure. They were in genuine danger of going from Grand Final contenders to out of Super League altogether but a decent enough start to the qualifiers have released some of the pressure but they can’t afford to lose to a Championship side.
The Giants go into this one in hot form. Nobody has scored more points than them in the first four rounds of the qualifiers and they are slowly getting back to the defence which got them so close to the Grand Final last season. They have scored 160pts in their last three matches and look daunting for anyone in attack.
Team News
Leigh Centurions have only made one change to their squad for this game and importantly that sees Willie Tonga making a return to the side. He will join the likes of Fuifui Moimoi through the middle.
Huddersfield will be without Eorl Crabtree and Tom Symonds after they both came down with injuries. That means that Sam Rapira and Kyle Wood get recalls for what is a huge match for the visitors.
Betting
This should be a great game of rugby. It is a huge occasion for Leigh and I wonder if they will be able to play with the freedom they have so far this season. If they can then they can win this match and secure their Super League status but it might not be that easy.
Huddersfield have looked rampant at times this season especially in recent weeks and that confidence should see them high on morale going into the match. I think they are worthy favourites and I think they will win but they might not win by as many as they have been doing.
In fairness all the lines look about right here. I wouldn’t put anyone off taking Huddersfield by 1-12pts as I’m expecting a tight game but we’ve seen in the last three weeks that when the Giants get on a roll they can be difficult to stop so I’ll sit this one out.
Tips
No Bet
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