Hull FC vs Leeds Rhinos Prediction: Rhinos to stampede to fourth straight win

Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos both look to bounce back from Betfred Challenge Cup exits last week when the two heavyweights lock horns at the MKM Stadium on Sunday afternoon (15:00, live on Sky Sports +)

The surprise Rhinos defeat at Wakefield came off the back of three straight Betfred Super League wins, with Hull winning just once from four outings in the league so far this term. Our rugby league guru George Riley shares his Hull FC vs Leeds Rhinos predictions, complete with the latest match odds and team news.

Hull FC vs Leeds Rhinos Odds

Team News

Hull FC are without their captain - former Rhinos half-back Aidan Sezer - through injury, with utility forward Yusuf Aydin also missing.

The latter has an ankle injury while Sezer has a pectoral problem, forcing head coach John Cartwright to make two changes to the 21-man squad he named last week at Leigh.

Into the group come Will Hutchinson and Ben Johnson. Already out injured are star signing Will Pryce, Harvey Barron, Herman Ese'ese, Joe Batchelor, Ryan Westerman and Jed Cartwright.

Leeds have suffered an injury to young half-back George Brown who has been deputising well for the injured former Man of Steel Brodie Croft. Brown has already had knee surgery that may rule him out for five months. His absence is the only change made by head coach Brad Arthur, with another youngster Ben Littlewood drafted in.

Croft was named in the squad last week but didn't play in the defeat at Wakefield - he should be closer to fitness this week and I would expect him to play. The other option is new recruit Jack Bird who was 18th man last week and is yet to make his debut since moving to the UK.

Handicap 3-way Alternative 1: Leeds Rhinos -14 @ 8/5

My opening line ahead of Wakefield v Leeds in last week's Betfred Challenge Cup tie was "if Leeds can take their Super League form into the Cup then this should be an away win, but some peculiar things can happen in one-off games, especially in a derby."

How true that proved, with the Rhinos looking rampant before the break, conceding right on the half-time hooter and somehow conspiring to lose a game of which they were in firm control. Credit Wakefield of course who were superb, but Leeds threw it away.

Wakefield had beaten Hull FC the week before and now it's Hull who host Leeds with both sides needing a big response. I was disappointed with Hull last week too, I had them to edge past an injury-hit Leigh but they fell short and must now rely on establishing some home form that was so strangely hard to come by last year.

A glance at last season's head-to-head between these two is interesting. Leeds won this fixture 34-0 in Hull, and edged out the Black and Whites 18-6 - with a good deal of late fortune as I recall - at AMT Headingley.

Much may depend on the fitness of Croft who was not risked last week. Leeds need him and the form he showed in Las Vegas reminded us just how good the former Salford man is alongside Jake Connor in the halves. If Croft plays then I think Leeds win. The Rhinos do not have the injury problems that Hull are contending with and I feel they will be the side competing for honours at the end of the season.

The handicap is 10 which feels about right but I'm looking at Leeds to win by three scores.

Leeds Rhinos to win both halves @ 6/5

We are running Betfred's Super League Double Delight for this fixture so if you take a punt on the first tryscorer in the match and your player goes on to score again then we will double your first tryscorer price!

In taking that one on, the one name to jump out is the Rhinos' new try scoring machine Maiko Sivo. The powerhouse winger has scored an incredible 11 tries in his last four games, starting with that four-try wondershow in Vegas. he will take some stopping again this weekend.

But - and I feel like I'm going to regret this - I'm so sure of a big response from Leeds that I'm going to back them again with my second selection. The Rhinos had a purple patch before half-time at Wakefield last week that gave them a platform they really should have built upon to see the game through. I have them to learn from that experience, start well again and turn the screw after half-time.

Click the link for all the latest Rugby League Odds

Find more Rugby League Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights