Leeds will be hoping to get back to winning ways after three consecutive Super League defeats when they host Huddersfield on Friday night. Read our preview of this West Yorkshire derby here:
SQUAD NEWS
Leeds Rhinos
Carl Ablett (calf) and Jimmy Keinhorst (hamstring) both suffered muscle tears that will keep them out for several weeks, whileย Joel Moon, who was included in the 19 to take on Leigh but didn’t feature, is left out entirely.
Anthony Mullally is unavailable as he serves a one-game suspension for ‘use of the knees in the tackle’, the same offence which earned him a two-game ban before he made his return against Leigh last week.
Matt Parcell will have to pass the ‘return to play’ protocol after he had to leave the field in the game agaisnt the Centurions due to concussion.
Liam Sutcliffe returns from a two-month absence due to a foot problem, and Mitch Garbutt could make his first appearance since early March after surgery on a knee injury. Brett Delaney and Jack Ormondroyd also come back in.
Leeds Rhinos 19-man squad:ย Golding, Briscoe, Sutcliffe, Hall, Myler, Cuthbertson, Parcell, Ward, Dwyer, Delaney, Garbutt, Ferres, Handley, Ormondroyd, Walker, Lilley, Smith, Oledzki, Walters.
Huddersfield Giants
Simon Woolford has made three changes to the squad that was knocked out of the Challenge Cup last Thursday.
Danny Brough has been given a three-match ban after being charged with dangerous contact. The initial ban was two games, but after his not guilty plea at the disciplinary hearing was unsuccessful the ban was extended by an extra game. Oliver Russell is expected to take his place in the halves.
Jake Mamo has been ruled out for 6 weeks with a grade 2 medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear and is replaced in the squad by Innes Senior.
Oliver Roberts has also dropped out, with Michael Lawrence returning after missing the last three games.
Huddersfield Giants 19-man squad: McGillvary, Cudjoe, Turner, Murphy, Gaskell, Ikahihifo, Leeming, Lawrence, Hinchcliffe, Rankin, Clough, Smith, O’Brien, Mellor, McIntosh, Wood, English, Senior, Russell.
HEAD TO HEAD
Huddersfield held the Rhinos to a surprise 22-22 draw in their last meeting, which came on Easter Friday. The Giants had just sacked Rick Stone, were bottom of the league and missing a host of first team regulars but a gutsy performance almost saw them beat the champions, only for a late Ash Handley try to rescue a point for Leeds.
The Giants did, however, manage to get a win in their last game at Headingley in April 2017, extending a good run at Leeds which has seen them win five of their last seven trips there in the league.
KEY BATTLE- Ryan Hall v Jermaine McGillvary
Two of England’s star men in last year’s World Cup go head-to-head in what is always an interesting battle on the wing when these two teams clash.
Hall is Leeds’ second-top scorer this season with eight tries, but his contribution to his side is best summed up by the fact he is Super League’s top metre maker and has made the most carries for the Rhinos.
McGillvary’s campaign has been disturbed by injury and he hasn’t recorded a try in the four games he has played since making his comeback almost a month ago, although Huddersfield’s upturn in form has coincided with his return.
A try or impressive performance could be the catalyst for McGillvary’s season to take off as the Giants look to secure a place in the top 8.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date:ย Friday 8th June 2018
Venue: Emerald Headingley Stadium
Kick-off: 19:45pm
Referee:ย Liam Moore
WHO WILL WIN?
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