Wakefield Trinity look to end a six-match losing streak when they host Huddersfield Giants, who have lost their last three, on Friday night.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Wakefield Trinity
Friday’s hosts have lost six Super League matches in succession and, after an impressive start to the year, are in danger of sleepwalking into danger.
Sitting just four points above Hull Kingston Rovers, who sit bottom on 12, Trinity are in desperate need of a win – especially after the uninspiring 30-6 defeat away to Warrington last time out.
Huddersfield Giants
And Huddersfield can’t boast of good form either, losing 22-38 at home Wigan Warriors last week.
Time after time in 2019, they have relied upon Jermaine McGillvary to bail them out, but I don’t see that changing considering the Giants have lost their last three matches.
SQUAD NEWS
Wakefield Trinity
Bill Tupou has recovered from a groin injury and comes straight back into the squad to face Huddersfield.
The centre, who has been out since March, returns to a Trinity that has lost six successive league matches.
Wakefield Trinity 19-man squad:ย Brough, Caton-Brown, Croft, Crowther, England, Fifita, Gwaze, Hampshire, Hirst, Jones-Bishop, King, Kopczak, Lyne, Miller, Pauli, Randell, Tanginoa, Tupou, Wood.
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield captain Leroy Cudjoe is in line to make his first appearance of the season for the Giants.
The skipper had been sidelined by a long-term knee injury and returns to the squad when they need him most
England international Jermaine McGillvary also returns to the side as the Giants look to avenge the 25-26 defeat from earlier in the season.
Huddersfield Giants 19-man squad: McIntosh, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Turner, Gaskell, Frawley, Clough, Leeming, Matagi, Murphy, Mellor, Lawrence, O’Brien, Roberts, Ferguson, Ta’ai, English, Ikahihifo, L Senior.
HEAD TO HEAD
The reverse fixture was perhaps one of the most gripping in Super League all season as Wakefield walked battered and bruised from the John Smith’s Stadium with the two points courtesy of Ryan Hampshire’s brilliant goal back in March.
Both teams scored four tries, with Jermaine McGillvary and Mason Caton-Brown going over twice, as the tension in the stands continued to grow.
Oliver Russell then kicked a drop goal with minutes to go to give the hosts the advantage and it looked to have been enough, but one of those now customary mistakes from the Giants’ backline saw Hampshire given the opportunity to nick it – and he did.
KEY BATTLE
Ben Jones-Bishop (Wakefield Trinity) vs Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants)
Both men crossed the whitewash when the two sides met in the Spring and, having scored three tries in his last five matches – more than any of his teammates, Jones-Bishop is probably the only Trinity man who can say he’s played well recently and mean it. Playing as either a winger or full-back, his versatility, as well as his talent, will be crucial against Huddersfield.
The Giants will be hoping that the Jamaican’s counterpart, McGillvary, will be able to step up to the plate on his return from injury. His absence, as always, has been a huge one and has put a huge dent in their confidence. But, if he does perform – and he usually does – he may just drag his team over the line for their first win in four matches.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date:ย Thursday 27th June 2019
Venue:ย Mobile Rocket Stadium
Kick-off:ย 19:45 GMT
Referee:ย Greg Dolan
WHO WILL WIN?
This one promises to be just as tight an affair as the reverse fixture was, but I see a different winner. Not a lot has gone Huddersfield’s way of late, or Wakefield’s for that matter, but the return of skipper Cudjoe and the immense McGillvary will give the Giants a massive boost – one that I believe will see them over the line: Huddersfield to win 22-24.
