Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos Predictions: 9/4 Edgell to score in losing effort?

Huddersfield Giants bid to build on their impressive home win over Salford Red Devils with Thursday's visit of a Leeds Rhinos side badly needing a lift after last week’s home reverse against high-flying Hull Kingston Rovers. (kick-off 20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports Action).

The Rhinos remain four points off the top six and will now be looking over their shoulders at Leigh Leopards and Huddersfield after their victories last week, while the Giants have found some form since the departure of head coach Ian Watson.

Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos Odds

Despite their win last week, the Giants are second favourites for this one at 11/10. You can get 4/5 on the Rhinos winning for the first time in the Brad Arthur era, while a draw in 80 minutes and subsequent period of golden-point extra-time is 18/1.

Team News

Huddersfield bid for a second successive win under interim boss Luke Robinson as their former half-back makes a couple of changes to the squad that beat Salford.

Thomas Deakin is available again after concussion protocols and comes back into the squad, Connor Carr is also included but Oliver Wilson has been ruled out the rest of the season. Matty English continues in the squad after his recall from a loan spell at Castleford.

Centre Kevin Naiqama and veteran Leroy Cudjoe returned to the squad last week. Leading tryscorer Adam Swift remains a long-term absentee. Sam Hewitt and Andrew Savelio remain suspended and complete their two-match bans.

Rugby League Odds

Leeds are without winger David Fusitu’a, who managed five games in the side after returning from injury but is now out again.

His place will go to either youngster Alfie Edgell or Luis Roberts. Edgell could get the nod having been on the bench last week, while Roberts didn’t feature.

Ben Littlewood comes into the squad, and James McDonnell is also named again despite a foot injury in last weekend’s defeat by Rovers.

Young prop Sam Eseh has had his loan from Wigan Warriors extended and is expected to continue in the side. James Bentley and Jack Sinfield are in the squad again after not featuring last week.

Huddersfield to win by 1-12 points @ 23/10

It hasn’t been a great time to be a Leeds fan in another season of few highs. After the departure of Rohan Smith the Rhinos beat Leigh at Headingley on pure emotion following the passing of Rob Burrow, but were extremely fortunate to sneak past rock-bottom London Broncos in golden point.

Since then the Rhinos have lost at Warrington and then at home to Hull KR last week in Arthur’s first game in charge. There was a lively start from Leeds, but from then on they were second best in all departments.

Huddersfield on the other hand have sparked into life since Ian Watson’s departure, very unfortunate to lose away at Leigh and deserved winners at home to Salford. We went with the Giants to beat Salford last week – we even gave them a head start that they did not need, so well done for backers who jumped on too.

The Leeds defeat at home to the Robins landed at 21/10 also, with Ryan Hall obliging with our anytime try for a Headingley double.

This one feels trickier to call, as Leeds are due some kind of response with another week of guidance from Arthur under their belts.

But watching the way Huddersfield out-thought Salford last weekend makes me feel this could be another difficult night for the Rhinos, and although I feel it will be tight I am leaning towards the Giants again.

Huddersfield have won their last three home meetings with Leeds by either one or two scores, and I feel this could be something similar. A Giants win by 1-12 points is my pick this week at 23/10, implying a probability of 30.3%.

Alfie Edgell anytime tryscorer @ 9/4

Rising star Edgell didn’t make it off the Leeds bench last week so this could well be a bit of a punt, but I have liked the look of the youngster in the minutes that he has had at the start of his professional career.

The absence of Fusitu’a should open things up for him again, and if he is selected to start on the wing at Huddersfield then 9/4 is too good a price to ignore.

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