Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC Prediction: 3/1 Lolohea to inspire Giants’ first win

It could be another rollercoaster year to be a Hull FC fan, with an impressive opening-round win away to Catalans Dragons in Betfred Super League already feeling like a distant memory after a thumping home defeat to champions Wigan Warriors. Next up they face Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith's Stadium on Friday (kick-off 20:00).

Huddersfield, on the other hand, were tipped to struggle, and two defeats from their first two games means this already looks like a big night in West Yorkshire. Read on for my Huddersfield Giants predictions as well as full match odds and team news.

Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC Odds

Despite their difficult start to the season, it's the Giants who have the bookies' favour for this one. The home side are 8/13 to pick up their first two competition points of the campaign, while Hull are available at 11/8. That tallies with a clean sweep for Huddersfield in their three encounters against the Black and Whites in 2024, scoring 130 points in the process.

The draw in 80 minutes is 18/1, will two of 12 Betfred Super League games having reached golden-point extra-time going into round three.

Adam Swift is odds-on to score a try at any times, with the 10/11 implying a 52.4% chance of the former Hull winger crossing for the first time in Super League this season. Swift scored 17 in 13 games in all competitions last term before a season-ending injury, with his two tries in the Betfred Challenge Cup earlier in February meaning he has 19 tries to his name in 16 appearances since the beginning of 2024.

Team News

After back-to-back defeats by a couple of scores against Warrington Wolves and Leigh Leopards, this feels like a really big game for the Giants and boss Luke Robinson.

After an impressive debut, George Flanagan keeps his place for Huddersfield, while Taane Milne is pushing for his first involvement of the season.

Hull boss John Cartwright makes two changes having lost Ligi Sao to a long-term knee injury. The big prop is set to be out all season with a ruptured patella tendon.

Will Hutchinson also drops out of the initial squad despite making his Super League debut last week, but hooker Amir Bourouh is back having missed the Wigan defeat through concussion protocols.

Ryan Westerman is also included after his ankle injury, but long-term absentees Zak Hardaker, Oliver Holmes, Davy Litten, Matty Laidlaw, Jack Charles and Jed Cartwright remain sidelined.

Jack Ashworth is named despite being poorly last week

Huddersfield Giants 1-12 points @ 19/10

I feel like I could toss a coin with this one and be more confident of the outcome. Both clubs need both the performance and the win, and I have seen nothing from either side to convince me that they can go on a roll.

So given the unpredictable early-season nature of this competition where cold, heavy grounds have made for attritional games, I'm going to be steered by the recent record books.

At home, Huddersfield tend to edge it, and their 24-18 win over the Black and Whites last May is what I am leaning towards here. As mentioned ealier, the Giants won all three meetings last year, but that was one of the weakest Hull sides in living memory.

The way Hull went and won in France does put some doubt in my mind, but if this stays as tight as I sense it might, then Huddersfield by a score or two is my safe selection. I'm not expecting this one to be particularly pretty.

Tui Lolohea anytime tryscorer @ 3/1

If it is a home win then you can expect Tui Lolohea to be at the heart of it. On his day, the Tongan is still one of the most watchable ball players in the competition, and 3/1 represents strong value for him to cross in 80 minutes.

Lolohea scored in the opening-round defeat to Warrington and took on extra responsibility alongside young George Flanagan last week. He is key to Huddersfield's chances.

We also have Double Delight on offer in this fixture - so if you back Tui as first tryscorer at 18/1 and he then scores again later in the game, we will double those odds to a massive 36/1!

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