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Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos: Preview

Huddersfield Giants 26-4 Leigh Centurions

Huddersfield play host to Leeds on Friday night, with the visitors looking for their third consecutive victory.

Leeds come into the game on the back of two big wins against Catalans and Wakefield, with the side racking up over 80 points in those games. They’ve started to play a really creative brand of rugby recently, and are in a similar form to the side that won the treble back in 2015. New hooker Matt Parcell is causing havoc for opposition sides around the ruck, while the likes of Adam Cuthbertson and Anthony Mullally have been the standout forwards, with the former finding his exceptional offloading game once again this year.

The Giants, on the other hand, have had a mixed start to the year, with a shock draw against league leaders Wigan last week being their biggest result. After two hammerings at the hands of Hull and newly-promoted Leigh, Rick Stone’s men produced a solid and assured performance on Sunday and will be hoping to recreate it on Friday against the Rhinos. Lee Gaskell has made the step back up to Super League effortlessly and has become a real leader within their side, while youngster Darnell McIntosh has been turning some heads with his performances at fullback.

Leeds are boosted by the return of stalwart Jamie Jones-Buchanan, with the second rower coming in for Liam Sutcliffe, who pulled out of the Wakefield game with a quad injury. Ash Handley is the only other change to the Rhinos 19, as he comes in for last week’s 18th man Mikolaj Oledzki. Brian McDermott is still unable to call on three members of his squad, with Keith Galloway and Stevie Ward still injured and Brad Singleton suspended.

Dale Ferguson comes back into the fold for the Giants, with Mikey Wood dropping out. Otherwise their squad is unchanged, although Ryan Brierley comes back into contention after missing out last week despite being named in the 19-man squad. Off-season recruit Jake Mamo tops the Giants’ injury list, with the former Newcastle man yet to make his debut for the club.

Huddersfield Giants: Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Lee Gaskell, Aaron Murphy, Danny Brough, Ryan Brierley, Sam Rapira, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Shannon Wakeman, Dale Ferguson, Kruise Leeming, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Oliver Roberts, Ukuma Ta’ai, Paul Clough, Daniel Smith, Tyler Dickinson, Darnell McIntosh, Alex Mellor.

Leeds Rhinos: Ashton Golding, Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow, Matt Parcell, Adam Cuthbertson, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Carl Ablett, Brett Delaney, Mitch Garbutt, Jimmy Keinhorst, Brett Ferres, Anthony Mullally, Josh Walters, Ash Handley, Jordan Baldwinson.

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