Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC Predictions: Giants have shown more promise

The Betfred Challenge Cup provides a welcome distraction for two erratic Super League teams, as Huddersfield Giants host a Hull FC side whose boss Tony Smith is already feeling the pressure.

The Black and Whites have managed just one win all season so far, and that was a nervy, narrow victory over new boys London.

A Cup run therefore could be just the tonic, and they travel to a Giants side bruised by a below-par performance at home to Hull KR last week.

Team News

Hull FC head coach Tony Smith made half a dozen changes last week but still found his side woefully out of sorts in a crushing 54-4 home defeat by Leigh Leopards.

Smith makes a further two changes to his squad for this week’s Cup tie, with Franklin Pele suspended again and Carlos Tuimavave having picked up a hamstring injury. Into the squad comes Davy Litten along with Harvey Barron.

Sidelined are Jack Walker with a hamstring injury, Jake Trueman (Achilles), Brad Fash (ankle), Mitieli Vulikijapani (knee), Zach Jebson (ankle), Kye Armstrong (shoulder) and Cobie Wainhouse (knee), while Jack Ashworth is banned for the next two games.

There’s no England prop Chris Hill for Huddersfield, with Joe Greenwood coming in, and Harvey Livett and Hugo Salabio also in the squad.

Huddersfield Giants 1-12 points @ 12/5

Both sides will fancy their chances of winning this tie and reaching the quarter finals, but I have seen more promise – albeit in glimpses – from the Giants, to favour them here.

Hull haven’t won at Huddersfield for five years and have had a torrid opening to the Super League season and may well be a little scarred from conceding a half century on home soil last week. That means I favour Ian Watson’s side to get the job done here.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see both sides take the shackles off given it is a Cup tie, but Hull still have too many bodies missing and for me look a little disjointed to back with any confidence, so I am going for a home win by one or two scores.

Adam Swift and Liam Tindell to score a try anytime @ 5/1

Swift seems a certainty to score in this game, given he is playing against his former club and has already notched four tries this year. The Huddersfield winger is just one try short of 150 for his career too, so I expect that to come in this fixture against his old team.

Liam Tindall made his Hull debut last week after showing heaps of promise when breaking through at Leeds, and the flying winger also feels like a good bet to get off the mark.

So let’s go for them both to cross for a bit of value.

You can find our Rugby League Betting Tips from the likes of George Riley and Paul Sculthorpe over at our Insights hub.