Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos Prediction: Who’s scoring at Accu? Is it a Bird?

Resurgent Huddersfield Giants welcome high-flying Leeds Rhinos on Friday night in the Betfred Super League having won back-to-back games since parting ways with head coach Luke Robinson (20:00 BST, Sky Sports Action).

But can the Giants extend their winning run against a Rhinos side fighting for supremacy at the top of the table? Read on for my Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos predictions.

Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos Odds

Team News

Interim Huddersfield boss Liam Finn has two men back in his initial 21-player squad. Winger Sam Halsall returns in place of Connor Wrench, who is struggling with injury, while Harry Rushton is fit again after a broken thumb and comes in for Jacob Alger.

Leeds head coach Brad Arthur made a bold call this week in sending England centre Harry Newman to rivals Hull FC on a one-week loan to aid the Black and Whites' injury crisis.

Newman has fallen out of favour in recent weeks, losing his spot at right centre to newcomer Jack Bird. Newman's absence from the squad is the only change for the Rhinos, with young forward Tom Nicholson-Watton the man to come in.

Leeds are pretty much full strength, with rising star Presley Cassell again included after being 18th man last time out against Bradford. The only injury absentees at the moment are youngsters George Brown, Alfie Edgell and Max Simpson.

Both sides have had a fortnight off since their last games after early exits in the Betfred Challenge Cup.

Leeds To Win Both Halves @ 7/5

A few weeks ago you would have had Leeds down to run riot in this fixture, such was the disarray in the Huddersfield team that led to a change in head coach. But things have settled down in the two games since, thanks in large part to the return to fitness of a host of first-team players of whom Robinson was deprived through the early rounds of the new season.

Wins over Wigan and York have breathed some life into Huddersfield's season, while Leeds have shown both their best and worst already this term but are sitting pretty in a share of the lead heading into this weekend.

Given the Giants' form, this has the ingredients to be a pretty good game. But I do feel the sparse home crowds for Giants games are a constant factor in their struggles. Things can turn very quiet, very quickly at the Accu Stadium, and if Leeds can start this game well then it could be a tough night for the home team.

The Rhinos have, though, been a frustrating watch for their supporters. Tipped as genuine title challengers this year, Leeds have destroyed champions Hull KR in Las Vegas and yet managed to lose at both Wakefield and Hull FC last month. The consistency that Grand Finalists need has not yet therefore been shown.

That said, I have Leeds down to churn out another away win here, having survived a real scare at Bradford a couple of weeks ago to win 24-12. My instinct is that this could be a similar type of game and similar kind of scoreline. There are points in this Giants team now that Niall Evalds, Jacob Gagai, Adam Clune and Tanguy Zenon are combining, and I really think Huddersfield can give a good go at this game.

But I'm siding with the squad with more quality throughout, and that is Leeds. The handicap is 10 points, and I have Leeds to win by a couple of scores. To do so they may have to hit the front and lead throughout, so my first selection is Leeds To Win Both Halves.

Jack Bird Anytime Tryscorer @ 6/4

For Huddersfield to earn another positive result in this fixture, they will need a huge defensive performance and to find a way to keep half-backs Jake Connor and Brodie Croft quiet. Stemming the supply line at source is the most effective way of stopping Leeds danger men Maiko Sivo and Ryan Hall out wide, with Sivo a 1/2 shot to continue his remarkable scoring run this weekend. Hall is a 4/5 chance, while Ash Handley has really benefited from his partnership with Sivo out left and is an attractive 6/5 to cross for a try.

Handley scored against Bradford, while the man who has taken Newman's place - Jack Bird - has justified that big call by Brad Arthur with two tries in two games. At 6/4 I'm backing him to bag another this weekend.

For Huddersfield, I am looking at Gagai (6/4) and Zenon (7/4) as two danger men.

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