Super 8s Preview: Huddersfield v Castleford (Fri)
Castleford return to action for the first time since clinching the Super League League Leaders Shield a fortnight ago.
The Tigers are now guaranteed a home draw in the play-offs and coach Daryl Powell will have the option to rotate his team and keep players fresh for their home semi-final.
This week they take on a Huddersfield team who have managed to drag their way back in to top four contention, despite seemingly being a lost cause in eighth place at the start of the Super 8s.
A tremendous win at Hull last time out has given them real hope of an unlikely play-off berth.
Huddersfield can welcome back some big-hitters to their 19-man squad, with internationals Leroy Cudjoe, Sam Rapira, Dale Ferguson and Oliver Roberts all returning in place of Nathan Mason, Daniel Smith, Gene Ormsby and Tyler Dickinson.
Castleford have kept many of their big names in their squad, though key forwards Andy Lynch, Mike McMeeken and Grant Millington are all given a rest in favour of Larne Patrick, Gadwin Springer and Kevin Larroyer.
Powell told the club’s official website: “Now the League Leaders Shield is secured we won’t rest on our laurels, we won’t sit back and allow out form to dip, we want to keep going well as we head towards our Semi Final.
“There will be a few players who haven’t played as much recently who’ll get an opportunity to put their names forward to be in the team when it really matters at the end of the season. We just want to keep our confident groove going.”
Last ten meetings:
Huddersfield 21, Castleford 26 (SLR13, 4/5/17)
Castleford 52, Huddersfield 16 (SLR7, 31/3/17)
Huddersfield 22, Castleford 30 (SLR17, 3/6/16)
Castleford 38, Huddersfield 34 (SLR9, 3/4/16)
Huddersfield 40, Castleford 26 (SLS8-R4, 3/9/15)
Castleford 16, Huddersfield 24 (SLR15, 21/5/15)
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)
Super League summary
Huddersfield won 16
Castleford won 24
Huddersfield highest score: 64-12 (H, 2008) (also widest margin)
Castleford highest score: 52-6 (H, 2012); 52-16 (H, 2017) (Widest margin: 52-6, H, 2012)
Squads:
Huddersfield: McGillvary, Cudjoe, Gaskell, Brough, Rapira, Hinchcliffe, Wakeman, Ferguson, Lawrence, Leeming, Ikahihfo, Roberts, Ta’ai, Clough, McIntosh, Mellor, O’Brien, Turner, Rankin.
Castleford: Cook, Eden, Foster, Gale, Hardaker, Hitchcox, Holmes, Larroyer, Massey, McShane, Milner, Minikin, Moors, Patrick, Roberts, Sene-Lefao, Shenton, Springer, Webster.
Prediction:
Huddersfield to keep alive their hopes of facing the Tigers in an unlikely semi-final – Giants by 8.