Leigh Leopards vs Hull FC Predictions: Ipape among tryscorers on Sunday

Another must-win game for Leigh comes at home to Hull FC on Sunday (15:00) as the Leopards bid to make up a five-point gap between them and the play-off places. The rearranged midweek derby went Wigan’s way meaning Leigh have to be pretty much perfect between now and the end of the season if they are to extend their campaign into the knockout stages.

Hull were crushed by St Helens last weekend as bottom club London beat Catalans, so it is a nervy time for the Black and Whites at the foot of the table. Read on for my Leigh Leopards vs Hull FC predictions and all the latest team news ahead of this game at Leigh Sports Village.

Rugby League Odds

Team News

Leigh were well beaten by Wigan on Tuesday night and still have issues in the halves, where Jack Hughes has been playing out of position. It wasn’t his greatest night either, as Hughes was sin-binned early in the game and Leigh leaked two tries during that time.

The Leopards are badly missing Matt Moylan alongside Lachlan Lam, and in the absence of both Moylan and McNamara it looks like being another makeshift pairing this weekend.

Hull FC make five changes after being walloped by Saints. Australian forward Jed Cartwright is included in the squad as he closes in on making a Super League debut.

The on-loan Sam Eseh is also included, having been recalled from his loan spell at Leeds by Wigan and then sent straight out again to Hull – he looks set for a debut too.

Academy players Will Hutchinson and Ryan Westerman are both named along with Lennon Bursell also included. Herman Ese’ese and Jack Charles both keep their places in the squad having been unused last weekend, as does Will Kirby.

Dropping out are Ed Chamberlain and Matty Laidlaw through concussion protocols, the suspended Brad Fash and Jordan Lane and the injured Jake Trueman.

Leigh Leopards vs Hull FC Odds

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Leigh Leopards are 1/14 to win on Sunday, Hull FC are 15/2, and the draw is 25/1.

Handicap 3-way Alternative 1: Hull FC 14 points @ 6/4

I expect Leigh to win this contest but I’m not too sure about the handicap.

Hull were back to their worst again last week in a 46-6 home loss by an inconsistent St Helens, having shown some signs of recovery in the weeks before.

Leigh are really missing a proper half-back alongside Lam which will give Hull hope, and although I don’t feel the Black and Whites can win this game, I do think they can beat the handicap.

Previous meetings between these two feel a little irrelevant to look at this week – mainly because Hull are usually much better than the side we have seen this season and way better than the team beaten 54-4 when these sides met earlier this year. But for reference, this meeting at Leigh last season finished 28-16 to the home side. I would be agreeing with a two to three score Leopards win here, but for that to be worth backing I will consider Hull on the handicap.

Can Hull keep the score within 14 or 20 points? They will hope so. After that bruising loss to St Helens it may simply be a case of looking to keep things as close as possible.

Edwin Ipape Anytime Tryscorer @ 6/4

Not many of Leigh’s main attacking threats are worth backing this week – Josh Charnley is 2/5 for an anytime try and Darnell McIntosh 2/1 to score against his former club.

Zak Hardaker was named on the bench in midweek but may be restored to the side after Moylan’s latest injury.

My pick though is hooker Edwin Ipape, a try scorer last week in the win at Castleford, and who is finding his best form again after his lengthy injury absence.

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