SL Preview: Leeds v Huddersfield
Leeds welcome Huddersfield to Headingley this evening hoping that they can put right their recent form against the Giants.
The Rhinos have failed to win in their last seven games against Huddersfield, with their last victory against the Giants being a 34-28 away play-off success on 23 September, 2011.
Their bid to end their dismal run has been helped by the return to the squad of Kylie Leuluai and Rob Burrow, who both missed the win over Widnes last time out.
A knee injury keeps Brett Delaney on the sidlines.
Huddersfield are yet to win after two rounds of Super League, having been beaten by Hull FC and Wigan.
Luke Robinson is rested, and Kyle Wood is incluced in Paul Anderson‘s squad for the first time this season.
Michael Lawrence also replaces Chris Baily in the 19-man squad.
Leeds Rhinos (19-man squad): Hardaker, Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Aiton, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Ward, Achurch, Cuthbertson, Sutcliffe, Singleton, Walters.
Huddersfield Giants (19-man squad): McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Crabtree, Lunt, Huby, Ferres, Hughes, Bailey, Lawrence, Kopczak, Wood, Ta’ai, Broughton, Mullally, Ellis, Connor.
Prediction: A hard game to call, but home advantage might just tell for Leeds. Either way it will be close. Leeds to win by six points.
Stats:
Danny Brough has scored points in his last 13 games against Leeds (11 for Huddersfield and 2 for Wakefield). His streak began in the Wildcats’ 32-30 home defeat by the Rhinos on 10 July, 2009. The Scotland captain also needs four tries to reach a career total of 100.
Kevin Sinfield needs 13 points to draw level with John Woods in fourth place in the list of all-time leading pointscorers.
Super League Summary:
Leeds won 25 (includes win in 2011 play-offs)
Huddersfield won 8
1 draw
Leeds highest score: 86-6 (H, 1999) (also widest margin)
Huddersfield highest score: 48-24 (H, 2012) (Widest margin: 38-6, A, 2011)
Last Ten Meetings:
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)
Leeds 6, Huddersfield 38 (SLR10, 15/4/11)