The rivals week in Super League begins on Thursday evening on a night where we were expected to have two matches to get stuck into but the late cancellation of the Warrington Wolves vs Catalans Dragons game has left us with just the one.
Unfortunately for those of us who like our Thursday night TV fix the Warrington game was the one which was going to be shown live so we have no TV action on Thursday and will need to rely on the radio commentary or the social media updates to keep up with the one remaining game.
Leeds Rhinos
This is a big match for the Leeds Rhinos not just because it is a Yorkshire derby but also because they currently occupy the final place in the Super League play-off places and are going to need to keep on winning in order to keep their destiny in their own hands. Should they lose at this stage of the campaign then with matches beginning to run out in the schedule they would leave the door open for someone to take their spot in the postseason.
Leeds ended a two match losing streak last week when they demolished the Leigh Centurions but they were damned if they did and damned if they didn’t in that contest because had they lost the world could have caved in but as they won all they did was what was expected of them. We’ll get a better test of whether they have recovered from those defeats here or whether that was the beginning of a rot setting in.
Huddersfield Giants
It was the other way around for the Huddersfield Giants. They saw a three match winning streak ended last week when they were surprisingly beaten by the Salford Red Devils and you would think that loss would spice them up to put on a show here. They have probably left themselves a little too much to do in terms of making the play-offs but they are at the beginning of the Ian Watson journey so if they can finish the season strongly it would certainly help moving forward.
The Giants are very much a side in transition so a pretty big number of injuries throughout the campaign and then the Covid-19 issues which have affected all the teams at some point certainly haven’t helped them either. There have been signs of life from Huddersfield in recent weeks as they show signs of continuity and some patterns to their play. They just need to cut out the inconsistency in their play to be a good side.
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Team News
Leeds Rhinos are going to be missing a number of players with Luke Gale and Konrad Hurrell on the injury table while Rhyse Martin is serving a harsh one match suspension. Matt Prior is also missing because of Covid protocols so the Rhinos are without some key men.
Huddersfield Giants continue to play without Aidan Sezer but Will Pryce is certainly proving an able deputy in his absence. Lee Gaskell returns to the Giants squad for this match which will be a boost to their chances.
Betting
Huddersfield Giants cost me last week but with the injuries that the Rhinos have for this match I have to be with the visitors, who are getting a decent start at eight points. The last three meetings between these two teams have been settled by a solitary point so regardless of the Leeds injuries the eight points would have been a big start. When you add those injuries into the mix, especially the ones to Gale and Hurrell, it looks even bigger.
The other thing to like about the Giants in this match is that Martin is out for Leeds and he’s one of the best goal kickers in the league. His backup would probably be Luke Gale and he’s missing as well so the Rhinos have that to overcome. I can’t get over the fact that matches between these two tend to be very tight and this one could be too unless the players Leeds are missing has decimated them a little too much. Either way I’ll take the Giants with the eight points they are in receipt of.
Tips
Back Huddersfield Giants (+8) to beat Leeds Rhinos for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with William Hill
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