The controversially rearranged Super League match between the Huddersfield Giants and St Helens takes place away from the spectre of the Challenge Cup on Friday night and it has become a big match for both sides.
Huddersfield can put a bit of distance between them and the bottom four with a win while St Helens really need to win if they are to keep any hopes of making the top four realistic this season.
Huddersfield Giants
After a sloppy and inconsistent beginning to the season the Huddersfield Giants have come alive with three wins in their last four matches, a run which has taken them out of the bottom four and got them believing that they can secure their Super League status without the need of a return to the qualifiers.
Additions to the squad have been a huge help for Huddersfield but they have also tightened up in defence in recent weeks with just 26pts conceded in total in those three matches they have won. That said they have beaten Catalans Dragons twice in that spell and they are a shambles right now so maybe that isn’t a good form guide.
St Helens
This has been a season which hasn’t got going for St Helens and one of the reasons for that has been their awful form away from home. They have lost six of their last seven matches on the road in this campaign and that is clearly holding them back. They need to go on a winning run to make it into the top four.
A lack of points on the road has been a big concern for St Helens. That has been putting pressure on their defence and that is never a good combination so they need to find a way to sustain pressure on the opposition line when they are playing away and that can start here in a match they should have an edge in the forwards in.
Team News
Huddersfield Giants are without recent recruit and former St Helens man Jordan Turner who picked up an injury in France last week. Ukuma Ta’ai has recovered from a long-term back injury and returns here.
St Helens have made just the one change to their squad from the one which beat Widnes last weekend. Danny Richardson comes back in for Dominique Peyroux.
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Betting
Both these sides have kicked on since the Magic Weekend although there are concerns for both still. Huddersfield Giants have won three of their last four but with two of them against Catalans I’m not sure how much we can take from that.
St Helens are on an awful run away from home and that is an equally big concern. I think Jordan Turner could be a big miss for Huddersfield and while I would give them an edge I think the prices are about right here. I’ll sit this one out rather than take a low value play.
Tips
No Bet
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