A busy week of action in the Super League begins on Wednesday evening when the Leeds Rhinos play host to the Huddersfield Giants in what is a big match for both sides but in particular the home team.
The next week is going to sort out the runners and riders for the top six and Leeds Rhinos can strengthen their chances of making it in with a win here. The Giants will be in the postseason but won’t want to go there without some form behind them.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Sky Sports Arena channel with the build-up at Headingley getting underway at 7.30pm ahead of the contest kicking off at 8pm.
Leeds Rhinos
It looked like the Leeds Rhinos were going to miss out on the postseason in what was starting to turn into a wretched season for the Headingley based outfit but seven wins from their last eight have left them as the favourites to make it through to the play-offs. If they win this match they might even be able to secure home advantage in the first round of them which would be incredible from where they were but in a busy week of action an incentive like that can often be all the motivation a team needs.
The Rhinos have come good in offensive areas in recent weeks too. They have put up 24 points or more in their last five matches and with scoreboard pressure has come a better defence. There is no team in the league in better form than them right now but they aren’t safe in their play-off spot yet so can’t afford to take their foot off the gas just yet. Leeds have tied and lost to Huddersfield this season so they’ll be keen for a win here.
Huddersfield Giants
The Huddersfield Giants go into this match in third place in the table and have won three of their last four matches. They will know that Wigan play St Helens in this round of matches so they have the chance to close to within a point of second place with two matches remaining. That is of course significant because if they are able to finish second this season they will skip the opening week of the playoffs and with three matches in nine days to conclude the campaign that week off will be welcomed.
We know all about the success of the Giants this term. It is down to their relentless completion rate and the pressure they put on teams with their kicking game. It isn’t always the flashiest rugby to watch but in a league where taking risks is the approach most teams employ it is different and it works. Only Salford have beaten Huddersfield in their last three matches but significantly Huddersfield have lost their last four on the road.
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Team News
Leeds Rhinos welcome three players back into their squad in the form of Kruise Leeming, Tom Briscoe and David Fusitu’a, the latter of whom returns from suspension. They will be without Cameron Smith though.
Will Pryce is added to the 20 men who were named in the squad by Ian Watson for the win over Castleford last week. That means that Jack Ashworth and Ash Golding are still missing for the Huddersfield Giants.
Betting
We might not see the most intense rugby played in the next two rounds but there is no excuse for these two not to light things up because they have the most recovery time of anyone ahead of the next set of matches on Monday so hopefully we get a predictable game here and if we do I expect Leeds Rhinos to cover a couple of points in a win. I’m full of respect for the Huddersfield Giants but their away form is more than a slight concern to me.
They have won four matches on their travels this term but have only beaten one team in the top seven away from home and that was an injury hit Catalans. I’m not sure they get any joy out of a Leeds side who are suddenly flying and who for once have almost every important player to them available. They are missing Harry Newman and Cameron Smith but they’ve been without the former for so long they are used to that and the latter they have cover for. The spine of this Leeds side is intact and we’re seeing that they are a good team when they have them all around. I think Leeds win by more than a couple of points.
Tips
Back Leeds Rhinos (-2) to beat Huddersfield Giants for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
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