SL Preview: Huddersfield v Castleford
Huddersfield will be looking to build on last week’s 24-12 win over Widnes, their first victory of the campaign.
The visitors to the John Smith’s Stadium, Castleford, also recorded their first win of the season last week, hammering Wigan 42-14.
The Giants recall Luke Robinson, who has been absent for the last two matches. He replaces Shaun Lunt, who joined Hull KR on loan for the rest of the season on Wednesday.
Andy Lynch is back fro Cas after a lay-off with injury, and Scott Moore also returns from suspension.
Michael Shenton dislocated his shoulder in the game against Wigan, and will be replaced by Michael Channing.
Prediction: This a really hard game to call, with both teams finding some form last week. It would not be a surprise to see another Super League draw, but home advantage might just see the Giants over the line by two to eight points.
Huddersfield (19-man squad): Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Huby, Ferres, Hughes, Bailey, Lawrence, Kopczak, Wood, Ta’ai, Ellis, Connor, J. Johnson.
Castleford (19-man squad): Dorn, Clare, Webster, Carney, Roberts, Gale, Lynch, Millington, O. Holmes, Cook, Massey, Boyle, Moors, S. Moore, Wheeldon, Finn, Tansey, Channing, Crossley.
Stats:
Danny Brough needs four tries to reach a career century of touchdowns. The Giants’ Scotland stand-off also needs eight goals to reach 500 for Huddersfield.
Cas winger Justin Carney is currently Super League‘s top tryscorer, with six. He has crossed the whitewash in his team’s last four games.
Huddersfield have won their last five home meetings with Castleford, with the Tigers’ last away win against the Giants coming 13-6 on 19 June, 2009.
Huddersfield’s Joe Wardle has scored a try in each of the Giants’ last four meetings with Castleford. Huddersfield’s Leroy Cudjoe has scored a try in each of the Giants’ last three meetings with Castleford.
Castleford’s Justin Carney has scored tries in the Tigers’ last three meetings with Huddersfield (2-1-1).
Super League Summary:
Huddersfield won 13
Castleford won 20
Huddersfield highest score: 64-12 (H, 2008) (also widest margin)
Castleford highest score: 52-6 (H, 2012) (also widest margin)
Last 10 Meetings:
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)
Castleford 44, Huddersfield 18 (SLR20, 4/7/10)