We have one match in the Super League XXX weekend on Saturday afternoon where the leaders going into the round of games, Hull KR, will continue their campaign when they host the Huddersfield Giants at Craven Park.
This is a clash between top and second from bottom with Rovers also having reached the Challenge Cup final but Huddersfield got their first win of the campaign at the Magic Weekend so have something to build on.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Sky Sports+ channel with the shortened build-up to the clash beginning at 5.25pm ahead of the 5.30pm kick off.
Hull KR
Hull KR have been brilliant so far this season with the only blemish on their record coming against the Wigan Warriors in what was a repeat of the Grand Final from last season. Since then they have kicked on again and have booked a place at Wembley next month and for the next few weeks their sights will be on maintaining their lead at the top of the table and really locking themselves in for a top two finish which would see them skip the opening leg of the postseason.
Hull KR have an excellent defence, which you have to have if you are going to be a competitive side, but what they also have is an attack which can hurt you right across the pitch. They have explosive backs on both sides of the field and a set of middles who just ground teams down. The other thing about this Hull KR unit is they come blasting out of the traps in the opening 20 minutes where their record is fearsome. Once they get control of games it is hard for the opposition to wrestle it back.
Huddersfield Giants
This has been a wretched start to the season for the Huddersfield Giants. They went to the Magic Weekend without a win in their nine Super League matches but they finally got off the mark for the campaign at St James’ Park and will be looking to build on that here. In many respects, having finally ended their barren run to begin the season, the Giants probably would have wanted to go again last weekend but they have had to wait an extra week for another crack at a second win.
The break will at least have given the Huddersfield outfit the chance to ensure that everyone is fit to go for this one. If they are going to go on the sort of run that they need to show that they are moving in the right direction then their attacking output really has to improve. They have scored just 112 points in their 10 matches this season and if you aren’t even averaging two converted tries a match then you aren’t going to win many games at this level. There needs to be a defensive improvement too but the attack needs to be a whole lot better.
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Team News
It was revealed earlier in the week that Hull KR will be without their centre Oliver Gildart for around four months but Arthur Mourgue is available again after being cup-tied against the Catalans Dragons last weekend. Jack Broadbent will go back into the centres.
George King has been included in the squad for the first time this season and the forward could be in line to finally make his competitive Giants debut after an injury in pre-season. Harry Rushton is another included in the 21-man travelling party.
Betting
This isn’t a match where a whole lot stands out to me. I think we can safely say that Hull KR are the favourites to win the game and it would be a surprise if they don’t win it well but they were in action last week and the two sides who have played so far this weekend who were involved in the Challenge Cup semi-finals haven’t been at their best. I’m not in a rush to take Hull KR to cover a 24.5 point handicap even though they are perfectly good enough to.
The bet I am happy to take here is the 6/5 on Peta Hiku to score a try. He has notched in three of his last four Super League matches and in the two meetings these two sides had last season, the centre scored five tries so there is something about this Huddersfield defence that he likes the look of. Mikey Lewis is creating havoc with the ball in hand while the Hull KR pack all look in great form so Hiku being one of the better support backs in the league shouldn’t go short of chances to cross the try line. Odds against on a quality back in a match the Robins are expected to dominate feels good to me.
Tips
Back P.Hiku to score a try for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with Coral
