SL Preview: Huddersfield v Leeds

Correspondent

Leeds’ winning streak finally came to an end against Warrington last week, with the Wolves completing a double over the Rhinos.

They remain the only team to have recorded victories over Brian McDermott’s men this season, a sign of the Rhinos’ consistency and strength.

Steve Ward is a doubt for Leeds with an ankle injury, but Jamie Jones-Buchanan is included in the 19-man squad.

Huddersfield have stayed competitive this season, without yet finding the real heights that their quality players can find.

Paul Anderson‘s men recorded a good win over Hull FC last week, and will want to now start to put some proper form together.

Luke Robinson is rested for the Giants, with youngster Kruise Leeming coming into the squad.

Prediction: This will be a close one, with the Giants keen to put one over on their Yorkshire rivals. Leeds will be just too strong, though, and win by four to six points.

Huddersfield Giants (19-man squad): Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Crabtree, Huby, Hughes, Lawrence, Kopczak, Wood, Ta’ai, Broughton, Mullally, Ellis, Connor, Johnson, Leeming.

Leeds Rhinos (19-man squad): Hardaker, Watkins, Moon, McGuire, Burrow, Aiton, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Ward, Delaney, Achurch, Cuthbertson, Sutcliffe, Singleton, Keinhorst, Mulhern, Handley.

Stats:

Huddersfield are undefeated in their last four home meetings with Leeds, having drawn one and won three. The Rhinos’ last away win against the Giants was a 34-28 play-off success on 23 September, 2011.

Danny Brough has scored points in his last 14 games against Leeds (12 for Huddersfield and 2 for Wakefield). His streak began in the Wildcats’ 32-30 home defeat by the Rhinos on 10 July, 2009.

Brough also needs two tries to reach a career century of touchdowns. His total of 98 has been scored as follows: 4 for Dewsbury (2002-2003), 20 for York (2003-2004), 3 for Hull FC (2005-2006), 12 for Castleford (2006-2007), 19 for Wakefield (2008-2010), 36 for Huddersfield (2010-2015) and 4 for Scotland (2004-2008, 2010 & 2013-2014).

Huddersfield’s Joe Wardle has scored a try in each of the Giants’ last three meetings with Leeds.

Danny McGuire needs two tries to reach 250 for Leeds. McGuire’s total of 248 touchdowns has been reached in 358 games for the Rhinos since 2001. He has also landed five field goals for Leeds, leaving him three points short of a total 1,000 for the club.

Super League Summary:

Huddersfield won 8

Leeds won 26 (includes win in 2011 play-offs)

One draw

Huddersfield highest score: 48-24 (H, 2012) (Widest margin: 38-6, A, 2011)

Leeds highest score: 86-6 (H, 1999) (also widest margin)

Last 10 meetings:

Leeds 28, Huddersfield 24 (SLR3, 26/2/15)
Leeds 22, Huddersfield 24 (SLR16, 12/6/14)
Huddersfield 12, Leeds 12 (SLR4, 7/3/14)
Huddersfield 40, Leeds 18 (SLR19, 23/6/13)
Huddersfield 24, Leeds 8 (CCR5, 11/5/13)
Leeds 8, Huddersfield 32 (SLR6, 8/3/13)
Huddersfield 48, Leeds 24 (SLR27, 9/9/12)
Leeds 12, Huddersfield 22 (SLR9, 30/3/12)
Huddersfield 28, Leeds 34 (SLPSF, 23/9/11)
Huddersfield 24, Leeds 31 (SLR27, 11/9/11)