Another round of Super League matches kicks off as ever on Thursday night with a local derby between Huddersfield Giants and the Castleford Tigers. These two have already met this season with the Tigers running out emphatic 52-16 winners so the Giants shouldn’t lack for motivation in this one.
Castleford go into the match with a one point lead at the top of the Super League table and can go three points clear with a win here while Huddersfield can attach themselves to the top eight with a win of their own.
Huddersfield Giants
Clearly it hasn’t been the beginning to the season that the Giants would have wanted but they come into this match off the back of a win over Leeds Rhinos last week and if anything is going to give them the confidence to produce another good effort here it will be that. There was a feeling that win was a platform to build from.
It has been defensively that the Giants have struggled for the most part this season especially at home where they haven’t been able to get any form or consistency going at all so they will need to address that. We saw last week if they can sort that out they certainly have the attacking players to put up points.
Castleford Tigers
Speaking of confidence boosting wins last week the Castleford Tigers had exactly that. They walloped Wigan by 50pts in a thoroughly convincing and dominant performance which certainly answered the quest of whether the Tigers are genuine contenders or merely pretenders to the throne. They are genuine.
If there is a concern for Castleford long term then it is that they haven’t been as dominant or as emphatic on the road although they have been so good at home you would expect that. They haven’t been terrible away from home by any means but they aren’t quite as prolific on their travels it must be said.
Team News
Huddersfield will find themselves without Jermaine McGillvary for this match as he is off with England in the Test match against Samoa. Gene Ormsby replaces him while Sam Rapira comes back into the squad.
Castleford have been hit hard by the England match. They will be without Zak Hardaker, Luke Gale and Mike McMeeken to that match and Ben Roberts misses out through injury so they are without some big players.
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Betting
I’m not certain that the Huddersfield Giants will win this match but I do think they are good things to stay within the 14pt start that they are getting. There are two reasons for that. Clearly Huddersfield have benefitted from the timing of the England match and the players that Castleford have away here.
The other reason is that Huddersfield have had 48hrs extra to prepare for the game and while that might not be a big impact physically, Castleford’s win was a really significant one on Saturday night and emotionally they might have needed a day or two to come down from that so they could be a touch flat here.
Castleford aren’t the rampant side on their travels that they are at home so even if they win I don’t see it being by 14pts especially without Luke Gale. I’ll take Huddersfield with the start and have a small punt on them to win the match too.
Tips
WON – Back Huddersfield Giants (+14) to beat Castleford Tigers for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
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Back Huddersfield Giants to beat Castleford Tigers for a 1/10 stake at 4.33 with Betfred
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