Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC Prediction: Martin a sure-fire bet on Sunday
The Betfred Super League's bottom side, Huddersfield Giants, open day two of Magic Weekend with the ominous task of trying to halt upwardly mobile Hull FC at St James' Park on Sunday (13:00, Sky Sports Action). The Giants are the only team still seeking a first win - or indeed point - of the season and will have their work cut out against a Black and Whites side revitalised this term under head coach John Cartwright.
Below are my Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds.
Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC Betting Tips
*odds correct at the time of publication
Team News
Hull FC make two changes to their squad for a game that most would expect them to win with ease, despite coming into the weekend off the back of consecutive defeats for the first time this season.
Jordan Rapana is named in the squad after injury, and will be given every chance to prove his fitness ahead of Sunday's kick-off off having been sidelined by a groin issue.
Young prop Sam Eseh is back in the squad too, having been unable to play against parent club Wigan last weekend. The two players to make way are Callum Kemp and Will Gardiner.
The rest of the Hull FC walking wounded are still out though, with their injury list now comprising Jordan Lane, Jed Cartwright, Ligi Sao, Brad Fash, Ryan Westerman and Liam Watts.
Huddersfield need to find some kind of inspiration from somewhere and have allowed young winger Elliot Wallis to join Leeds Rhinos this week on loan.
A boost for the Giants sees the inclusion of key man Adam Clune in a squad for the first time since March, and boss Luke Robinson needs his scrum-half back firing as soon as possible.
Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC Odds
Huddersfield Giants are 11/2, or a 15.4 chance, to win on Sunday, with Hull FC 1/8 and the draw 22/1.
Handicap 3-way Hull FC -16 @ 1/1
I've been thinking hard about reasons for optimism for Giants fans heading to Magic Weekend, and in truth, I can't find any.
This current Huddersfield team showed early glimpses of promise in managing to lead games at half-time before falling away, but the weight of that zero in the points column is big at the foot of the table.
Their team talks this week will centre on a Hull team coming into the game off back-to-back defeats. But those defeats have been against champions Wigan and leaders Hull KR, so I would argue the downturn in form is more to do with the fixture list than anything else.
This, therefore, is the perfect chance for Hull to hit back, and I expect them to do so in the stadium of a football team sharing their black and white colours.
A glimpse at the recent head-to-heads is what would give Huddersfield some hope. Hull needed a dramatic finish to pip the Giants 11-10 in February, and last year's three meetings all went Huddersfield's way. The wins were convincing too, with the Giants twice hitting Hull for 50 points.
But these two teams have gone in pretty different directions since last season, and I would read nothing into those results.
Huddersfield may have won five of the last six games between these two teams, but I expect Hull to win this one, and with a little bit to spare. If they can match the Giants at the start, then it could be a very good day for the men from East Yorkshire.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Lewis Martin anytime tryscorer @ 4/6
His odds are shortening every week, but Lewis Martin has been a talisman for followers of this column this season.
The young flyer has been rewarded for his red-hot scoring form with a long-term deal at the MKM Stadium, and now he gets a chance to light up Magic Weekend.
There will be more value in looking elsewhere, but I always feel Martin is a sure-fire bet, and with 12 tries in all competitions, there is nobody more prolific right now.
A game against the second-leakiest defence in the league will have this Hull attack licking its lips.
And if you do want to boost Martin's value, don't forget we are offering Double Delight across Magic Weekend - so if you back Martin or any other player to score the first try and he goes on to score again, then we will double your first tryscorer price!
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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