SL Preview: Castleford v Huddersfield
Castleford coach Daryl Powell has dropped back rower Junior Moors, after publicly stating that the player needs to improve.
Frankie Mariano takes his place, while Denny Solomona also returns to boost the back line.
Cas need to find some form, as they head into this game on the back of consecutive defeats to Wigan and Hull FC.
Huddersfield suffered a setback of their own last week, being convincingly knocked out of the Challenge Cup by Leeds.
Leroy Cudjoe misses out for the Giants with injury, while Jamie Ellis is dropped.
Jodie Broughton, Kruise Leeming and Jake Connor are all included in Paul Anderson’s squad.
Prediction: Cas are struggling with their form currently, while Huddersfield have a point of their own to prove after the blip in the Cup. Giants by 12 points.
Castleford (19-man squad): Bailey, Channing, Finn, Gale, Gibson, Holmes, Jewitt, Lynch, Maher, Mariano, Massey, McMeeken, Millington, Milner, Roberts, Shenton, Solomona, Tansey, Webster.
Huddersfield (19-man squad): Grix, McGillvary, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Huby, Ferres, Hughes, Lawrence, Kopczak, Wood, Ta’ai, Broughton, Mullally, Connor, Leeming, Roberts.
Stats:
Michael Shenton needs twelve points to reach 500 for Castleford. Shenton’s total of 488 has been reached with 122 tries in 226 games for the Tigers (2004-2010 & 2013-2015).
Frankie Mariano needs one appearance to reach 100 for his career. Mariano has played 34 games for Castleford since 2014, and was previously with Hull KR (four games, 2009-2010), Wakefield (56 games, 2011-2013) and Featherstone (5 dual-registration games, 2013).
Luke Gale needs six points to reach 1,000 for his career. His total of 994 has been scored as follows: 286 for Doncaster (2007-2008), 274 for Harlequins (2009-2011), 319 for Bradford (2012-2014), 91 for Castleford (2015) and 24 for England Knights (2011-2012). Points breakdown: Doncaster (33 tries, 74 goals, six field goals); Harlequins (20 tries, 95 goals, four field goals); Bradford (19 tries, 119 goals, five field goals); Castleford (four tries, 37 goals, one field goal); England Knights (two tries, eight goals).
Danny Brough needs two tries to reach a career century of touchdowns. His total of 98 has been scored as follows: four for Dewsbury (2002-2003), 20 for York (2003-2004), three for Hull FC (2005-2006), 12 for Castleford (2006-2007), 19 for Wakefield (2008-2010), 36 for Huddersfield (2010-2015) and four for Scotland (2004-2008, 2010 & 2013-2014).
Super League Summary:
Castleford won 20
Huddersfield won 14
Castleford highest score: 52-6 (H, 2012) (also widest margin)
Huddersfield highest score: 64-12 (H, 2008) (also widest margin)
Last 10 Meetings:
Huddersfield 22, Castleford 0 (SLR5, 12/3/15)
Castleford 44, Huddersfield 30 (SLR20, 11/7/14)
Huddersfield 29, Castleford 28 (SLR11, 4/5/14)
Huddersfield 48, Castleford 32 (SLR22, 21/7/13)
Castleford 24, Huddersfield 40 (SLR11, 6/4/13)
Castleford 52, Huddersfield 6 (SLR20, 8/7/12)
Huddersfield 42, Castleford 4 (SLR7, 16/3/12)
Castleford 22, Huddersfield 18 (CCQF, 24/7/11)
Huddersfield 40, Castleford 18 (SLR16, 5/6/11 (at The Shay, Halifax)
Castleford 18, Huddersfield 12 (SLR2, 19/2/11)