Huddersfield Giants vs Castleford Tigers Predictions: Senior to star in Cas win?

The final game of Magic Weekend sees a West Yorkshire derby between two sides in Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers who have nothing of note to play for in the remaining weeks of the Betfred Super League season (kick-off 18:30 BST, live on Sky Sports Action).

Huddersfield have been up and down since the departure of coach Ian Watson while Castleford are showing promising signs under boss Craig Lingard and can leapfrog their rivals into ninth spot in the table with victory at Elland Road. Here are my Huddersfield Giants vs Castleford Tigers predictions.

Huddersfield Giants vs Castleford Tigers Odds

Luke Robinson is being backed by the title sponsors to record another victory in temporary charge of the Giants. They're priced up at 1/2, with Cas slated at 17/10. The draw is available at 18/1, with an implied probability of just 5.3%.

Team News

Castleford make four changes for the trip to Elland Road with some key men returning after absences in the loss at Hull KR last week.

The headline inclusion is the return of Paul McShane after injury, while Brad Martin, Corey Hall and Will Tate all come back in.

The four to drop out are Luke Hooley, Cain Robb, Fletcher Rooney and Jenson Windley.

Rugby League Odds

Interim Giants boss Robinson is able to bring back Esan Marsters after injury, with the centre having been absent since suffering an injury away to Catalans Dragons in a narrow defeat in June.

Matty English could also play, the big forward is named in the squad after a niggle. Aiden McGowan misses out under concussion protocols.

Castleford Tigers to win @ 17/10

Both of these sides come into the game on three-match losing streaks and will feel this is a perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Huddersfield are favourites to win this one, but from what I have seen in the flesh this year I feel Castleford are the better side.

They could have won at Salford a few weeks ago before losing out by eight points, then lost to Leigh by a similar margin before coming unstuck against an inspired Hull KR last week. How they respond to that 36-6 defeat will be key on Sunday.

As for Huddersfield, I’m convinced there is a good side in there but they are just too inconsistent. Narrow defeats to Catalans and Wigan in the last two weeks prove this Giants side can play, whereas the manner of their 34-6 defeat at home to Leeds at the end of July underlined the extent of their current problems.

That said, the Giants’ record in this fixture is great, having won the last five meetings with Castleford dating back to 2022. In fact, Huddersfield have triumphed in eight of the last nine meetings between these two sides.

So there is no real logic to this prediction other than what I have seen this year, combined with gut instinct, but I fancy Cas to win.

Innes Senior anytime tryscorer @ 1/1

If Castleford are going to have a good day then this guy has to be on the scoresheet, The big winger has been quiet in recent weeks and it feels like too long a dry run for it to continue.

In fact, it is four games without a try for Senior since his double away to London at the start of July. Expect that run to end here.

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