Leigh Leopards vs Hull FC Prediction: Away side can land crucial win

A fascinating Betfred Super League contest on Thursday sees Leigh Leopards host Hull FC with both sides looking to bounce back from tough defeats last weekend (kick-off 20:00).

The Black and Whites travel to face the Leopards having been dramatically beaten at Leeds last Friday night while Leigh managed to run in 28 points away to the champions but still ended up on the losing side at Wigan.

Team news

Leigh head coach Adrian Lam is forced into a number of changes for the visit of Hull with Gareth O'Brien unavailable after failing his head injury assessment at Wigan.

Full-back David Armstrong is also absent from the squad but Keenan Brand does make his return from injury in what is only a 20-man squad named by Lam.

Alec Tuitavake is free to play after escaping a ban for a challenge on Zach Eckersley, while Aaron Pene and Frankie Halton remain absent.

Hull boss John Cartwright was left fuming with the officials after his side's thrilling late defeat at Headingley and he makes just one change to the squad from that game.

Leigh Leopards vs Hull FC Odds

Jordan Rapana suffered a serious-looking head injury that prompted a lengthy delay in Leeds. The centre was stretchered off in a neck brace but later returned to the bench and although he has been cleared of serious injury he misses out this week through HIA protocols. Matty Laidlaw is the man to come in.

Still absent are Ligi Sao, Jordan Lane, Jed Cartwright, Liam Watts, Oli Holmes and Ryan Westerman.

Match winner Hull FC @ 17/10

I was at Headingley last Friday as Hull came up just short against Leeds and for large parts of that game it seemed that the visitors would see out the win. They dominated in spells and I left feeling they were pretty unfortunate.

Nevertheless that is now four straight defeats for Cartwright's men and a trip to Leigh is hardly the date in the diary where you would bank on that run changing.

The game between these two teams earlier in the season was a belter, and even extra-time couldn't find a Golden Point winner in a rare Betfred Super League draw. Leigh have kicked on since then whereas Hull have stuttered somewhat, and the home side are favourites to win this one with the handicap set at 6 points.

I feel that a Hull win isn't too far away however, and given what I saw at Leeds I have a fair degree of confidence that they can run this one close.

The handicap doesn't appeal to me too much this week, and we actually got both of our Hull FC tips spot on last weekend with Leeds winning by 1-12 points at 19/10 courtesy of that late Ryan Hall try, and our any time scorer bet also landing at 6-4.

This week I am going to back Hull against the odds, but feel it is a tight one and am thus going to stick on the outright match betting for a rare Leigh home defeat.

Lewis Martin anytime try @ 6/5

He came up trumps for us again in defeat at Leeds last weekend with a 6-4 anytime try and at similar odds this week I will stick on Lewis Martin.

He has a great eye for a try and doesn't need too many chances - as was shown with his smart finish at Headingley.

In games where I back Hull to score points, I would always expect Martin to be in the thick of it.

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