In a repeat of the 2014 Challenge Cup Final, Leeds and Castleford look to get their seasons up and running after sluggish starts to their league campaigns.
The Rhinos will now move on from the man who last delivered them the Challenge Cup, Richard Agar, with the former Hull boss stepping down from his role this week.
As for Castleford, Lee Radford’s new era hasn’t been the success people hoped it would be but positives in the last two games could guide them to victory at Headingley as last year’s cup finalists look to go one better.
Team News
Leeds are still without David Fusitu’a through injury with the big winger left out of interim boss Jamie Jones-Buchanan’s 21-man squad. There’s also no Zane Tetevano as he serves a two-match suspension but Matt Prior is back from his own ban.
For Castleford, Adam Milner is back in contention for the first time this season whilst Liam Watts and former Rhino Alex Sutcliffe return. Jordan Turner could feature despite a fractured hand whilst Niall Evalds and Nathan Massey are back in the fold. The Tigers will be without the suspended Brad Martin and Cheyse Blair through injury. New signing Ryan Hampshire is also absent due to a broken hand.
Match Preview – Key Battles:
Blake Austin vs Jake Trueman: Things haven’t gotten off to the best start for Blake Austin at Leeds, but historically a dangerous runner with the ball and an attacking threat, he’s still one the Tigers will want to shut down. However, they have a threat at six themselves. Last season Trueman ripped Leeds apart down the middle early in the campaign and a similar performance here could have the Tigers heading into the quarter-finals.
Kruise Leeming vs Paul McShane: Niall Evalds’ return could see Paul McShane return to nine creating a huge battle between two English hookers and the last two players to be selected at nine in the Dream Team meet. Leeds skipper Leeming poses a running threat and is a superb kicker, but McShane likewise offers a range of skills from dummyhalf. The nine who gets a hold of the game early will likely enjoy the spoils come full time.
James Bentley vs Alex Sutcliffe: Back in the fold against his former club, Alex Sutcliffe may have something to prove against Leeds’ major signing in the shape of James Bentley. Both tenacious players, this could be a feisty battle.
Where the game will be won and lost:
This game could be won in the minds of the players. Both teams have star-studded squads yet are low on confidence with just two wins all season between them. With Agar stepping down from his role as Head Coach, Leeds may have something to prove. Either that or it could knock their confidence further leaving them subject to a Tigers side who have been much more competitive the last few weeks.
Score Prediction:Â Leeds Rhinos 18-14 Castleford Tigers
