Super League - Round 25 - Wigan Warriors vs Huddersfield Giants

Wigan Warriors vs Huddersfield Giants (+18/24pts)

44 years is a long time to wait in Rugby League. So you would have to forgive the Huddersfield Giants for having one eye on next weekend’s Challenge Cup Final, a fixture they last played in the summer 1962.

Unlike the other finalists, St Helens, Huddersfield are looking currently looking over their shoulders at the relegation dog fight, and are in serious danger of becoming prime candidates for the drop. Again, unlike Saints, John Sharpe has been forced into fielding semi-strong squad to face the in-form Wigan Warriors at the JJB.

Wigan, whose shock win away to Leeds Rhinos last weekend eased their relegation fears, will be eager to score big tomorrow night and leap frog the Giants in the table. Bookmakers are asking the home side to make up around 20pts (was 16pts earlier in the week), a fair handicap, but one the Warriors can cover, especially considering their recent form winning 7 out of their last 8 Super League fixtures.

Huddersfield’s semi-strong squad is missing familiar faces such as Paul Reilly and playermaker Chris Thorman. Brad Drew, the Giant’s most influential and ever present player this season, has also been ruled out. Not only will they miss the hooker’s creativity and workrate, but it’s extremely difficult for a team to adjust and adapt when missing a key player for the first time, so late on in the season. Brad Drew and Huddersfield will be the perfect example of this.

Huddersfield’s forward pack is still strong (as is Wigan’s with Paleaaesina’s clearance to play) and could cause problems if they are allowed to pick up momentum. However one has to seriously wonder where will the tries come from for the Giants. They are obviously light in the backline, calling up unknowns such as teenage half-back Tom Hemingway and 20-year-old winger Bolu Fagborun.

Comfortable home victory for me!

Wigan (18-man squad): Ashton, Calderwood, Dobson, Fielden, Fletcher, Godwin, Hansen, Higham, Hock, Logan, McAvoy, O'Carroll, O'Loughlin, Orr, Paleaaesina, Richards, Tickle, Vaealiki.

Huddersfield (18-man squad): Aspinwall, De Vere, Donlan, Paul, Crabtree, Gannon, Nero, Snitch, Wild, Jones, Jackson, Smith, McDonald, Raleigh, Hemingway, Fagborun, Mason, Brown.

Recommendation: Wigan Warriors –18pts @ 1.90 expect (2pts)
Prediction – Wigan win by 26pts

(Scale – 1 to 5pts)

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Good luck!