Castleford Tigers vs Hull FC Prediction: Double-double for Mapapalangi?

After their stunning win at Wigan last weekend which moved them off the foot of the Betfred Super League table, Castleford Tigers are back at home at the OneBore Stadium on Friday to take on a Hull FC side in need of a boost of their own after a difficult couple of weeks on and off the field (20:0 BST, Sky Sports +).

Back-to-back defeats to Hull KR and St Helens, coupled with the departure of popular head coach John Cartwright, have created a bit of unease around the Black and Whites, who could well do with a big performance in West Yorkshire. Read on for my Castleford Tigers vs Hull FC predictions, the latest team news and Betfred's match odds.

Castleford Tigers vs Hull FC Odds

Cas are 5/4 for the victory on home soil, with the visiting Black and Whites 8/11. The draw is 14/1.

Team News

With Steve McNamara on his way next season to replace the now-departed Cartwright, Andy Last is placed in interim charge of Hull for the trip to the OneBore Stadium.

And he makes two changes to the squad from last week's defeat to St Helens, with half-back Jake Arthur set to return from the calf injury that kept him sidelined from those two recent defeats. Also coming into the squad is prop Jeremiah Mata'utia, on a one-week loan from Leeds Rhinos.

England centre Harry Newman played in a Hull shirt last week too after his surprise short-term loan from Leeds, and that deal has been extended to allow Newman to play again.

Impact prop Sam Lisone - another former Leeds man - is out after a nasty-looking bicep injury against Saints which could keep him out for a while. The other man to make way is Will Kirby.

The injury list is a lengthy one, with Will Pryce, Herman Ese'ese, John Asiata, Joe Batchelor and Arthur Romano among the regular starters missing.

Cas coach Ryan Carr names a 20-man squad that is missing talisman Joe Westerman. Long-term injuries also deprive Carr of the likes of Fletcher Rooney, Blake Taafe and Louis Senior.

Jordan Lane will play against his former club for the first time.

Rugby League Odds

Handicap 2-way: Hull FC -2.5 @ 10/11

There doesn't feel like a single easy game to call this week, and this is another contest that could quite easily go either way. Both teams are missing key players, and the form is actually with the Tigers despite the home side receiving a narrow 2.5-point start on the handicap.

All is not well at Hull. The departure of Cartwright has attracted a lot of media coverage for the way it was handled, with Cartwright then allowed to undertake his usual media duties which resulted in some understandably animated quotes which were always likely to bring an end to his stay at the club.

So how do Hull respond this week under Last, against a team who should be brimming with belief after that seismic win at Wigan?

The wise money would be on a home win and more problems for Hull. Cas are only going to get better the longer Carr is in charge, while Hull feel like they have a difficult period to manage before the new regime takes over. That said, I'm rarely described as a wise man and tend to trust my instincts more than logic and stats. And despite both teams missing some big names I still believe Hull have the better group of players.

As such I'm going to back an away win for a team dealing with turmoil. I'm going to do it quietly and then hide behind the sofa.

Krystian Mapapalangi Anytime Tryscorer @ 6/4

Hull let slip a 12-6 half-time lead last week to lose at home to Saints, scoring two tries in the first half-hour but adding no more. Cas scored four tries at Wigan to overturn a half-time deficit of their own and I'm expecting some tries in this one.

Betfred is running Super League Double Delight in this one so if your First Tryscorer goes on to score again we will double your price.

Hull winger Lewis Martin is the most likely to cross at 4/6 having topped the charts last season, while for the home side I'm looking at Jason Qareqare (1/1) and Krystian Mapapalangi (6/4).

The latter destroyed Wigan last week with a try in each half and is finding his feet in the British game after arriving in the winter from Newcastle Knights in the NRL.

If he can reproduce last week's form it could be a tough night for Hull.

Find more Rugby League Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights