Huddersfield Giants vs Warrington Wolves Prediction: Sam to topple Tom in Burgess battle

Betfred Challenge Cup 2024 finalists Warrington Wolves are well-fancied for a real crack at silverware in the Betfred Super League this year as head coach Sam Burgess leads his side into a season-opener at Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

The Giants endured a difficult 2024 and boss Luke Robinson knows that few will be expecting his side to be in the play-off mix in 2025 either. My Huddersfield Giants vs Warrington Wolves predictions are below, complete with full team news and match odds. 

Huddersfield Giants vs Warrington Wolves Odds

To finish off a weekend punctuated by surprisingly tight fixtures, Huddersfield's 11/4 for the win with Betfred looks attractive, with the odds implying a 26.7% probability of a home victory.

Warrington are big 2/7 favourites for the two points, so anyone fancying the Wolves might be best served looking at the 2-way handicap market in which 10/11 is on offer for them to overcome a 10.5-point start.

The draw in 80 minutes, which we saw two of on the first two nights of the season, is a 20/1 option.

Team News

Sam Burgess will be without back-row forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon, who is not quite ready to return following shoulder surgery, but should be available for next week's game against the Catalans Dragons.

Hooker Sam Powell is fit to play though, despite shoulder surgery of his own, with only centre Toby King a doubt. King is named in the initial 21-man squad but has been struggling with a groin problem and will be replaced by Arron Lindop if he doesn't make it.

Scrum-half Leon Hayes won't be available until round five as he recovers from a hamstring injury and centre Connor Wrench is out with ACL damage and won't play before Easter.

For Huddersfield, Tom Burgess is in line for his Super League debut against his brother's club having been given squad number 10, and much is expected of the England international following his return from the NRL.

With Jake Connor having departed for Leeds Rhinos, look out for full-back Jacob Gagai to provide the magic, with try machine Adam Swift hoping for an injury-free season on the wing after the disappointment of last year.

The Giants, though, already have a bit of an injury list, with Liam Sutcliffe and George King out, Sam Halsall and Adam Clune missing and Taane Milne still in Australia.

Matty English is back in the squad after missing the Challenge Cup win over Hunslet, whie Danny Richardson is also in line to make his first appearance since joining Huddersfield on loan from Hull KR.

Handicap 3-way Warrington Wolves -10 @ 20/21

I really fancy Warrington to open with a strong performance and am probably being a little bit cautious in sticking on the handicap here. I feel the Wolves will be even better after another full pre-season under Burgess and expect them to have far too much for a Giants side that is at best an unknown quantity.

This is George Williams' time to step up and shine as captain, and I'm expecting a big season from both the England man and the Wire.

Warrington tend to flourish on their trips to West Yorkshire, winning all six trips there in the regular season last year. They haven't actually lost a regular season game in Yorkshire since the summer of 2023.

The three games between these sides in '24 were ugly for Huddersfield, losing 66-0 at home in September, 48-0 away in July, and at least managing a few points in the Challenge Cup fixture before bowing out 46-10 in the semi-final in St Helens.

I'm trying to think of reasons that this could be a different story with a fresh slate for Robinson at the start of 2025, but I just don't see it.

I'm sticking with Warrington to lay down an early marker. If this was a bit later in the season with firmer ground, better weather and slicker combinations it may be a points frenzy, but given we are in mid-February I am going to stick with the handicap and the Wire to win by two-to-three scores.

George Williams anytime tryscorer @ 7/4

The two Wire stars I fancy for tries this week are their talisman Williams and centre Rodrick Tai. Every attack goes through the hands of Williams and he has an uncanny knack of being there to finish them off too, proving a very kind tryscorer bet for us in this column last season.

Tai is a threat down the right edge and likes playing against Huddersfield, having scored in his last three games against the Giants. He is available at 6/4, with Williams at 7/4. So, being a tight Yorkshireman myself, I am going with the extra value at the implied probability of 36.4%.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.