Wigan Warriors vs Huddersfield Giants Predictions: 3/1 Leeming to haunt old club

Wigan Warriors need a big response on Thursday after being knocked off the top of the table by Warrington Wolves last week, and they will be well backed to do so at the Brick Community Stadium against a Huddersfield Giants side still struggling in ninth (kick-off 20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports Action).

The Warriors have looked a little jaded of late and were well beaten by the Wolves, but this looks like a good weekend for Matt Peet’s side as the top two – Warrington and Hull KR – face off on Friday night. Here are my Wigan Warriors vs Huddersfield Giants predictions.

Wigan Warriors vs Huddersfield Giants Odds

Despite the setback of back-to-back defeats against Hull FC and Warrington, the Warriors are expected to return to the winners' circle this week and Betfred have them at 1/8 to do so in 80 minutes. The Giants can be backed at 5/1 to extend Wigan's pain, and the draw in normal time is 22/1.

Team News

Wigan were rocked this week when hooker Brad O’Neill was ruled out for the season. The 22-year-old suffered an ACL injury in that defeat to Warrington and is unlikely to play again until 2025. Indeed, coach Peet said this week his recovery will be “upwards of nine months”.

Kruise Leeming should come in for O’Neill but the former Leeds Rhinos hooker is himself returning from an ankle injury.

Much better news this week for the Warriors comes with the return to the squad of star full-back Jai Field, who hasn’t played since a hamstring injury suffered in the Betfred Challenge Cup final at Wembley in June.

Prop Sam Eseh is also named in the squad after being recalled from his loan spell at hometown club Leeds with whom he made five successive appearances.

Rugby League Odds

Huddersfield’s return to form under interim boss Luke Robinson was brief, as they produced an awful performance to lose heavily at home to Leeds last week.

Robinson brings back Thomas Deakin as well as Andre Savelio and Sam Hewitt after suspension, while Seb Ikahihifo is also back. Jake Connor is retained in the squad despite a nightmare showing for the full-back against the Rhinos.

Handicap 3-way: Wigan Warriors -14 @ 20/21

Wigan’s thumping 40-4 defeat at home to Warrington last week was one of the standout results of the season and showed that form and momentum is very much with the Wolves right now.

The Warriors have looked a little tired in the last month – an understandable lull perhaps in a year that has already seen the World Club Challenge and Challenge Cup added to an already-bulging trophy cabinet. But a big part of that has been the absence of star pair Field and Bevan French. And let’s not write off Wigan either – they remain joint top and will win this game to go clear again.

I have no doubt of a big Wigan response, the only doubt over that would be the impact of conceding seven tries at home last week. But in truth the Giants were so bad against Leeds there should be little reason for Wigan fans to be worried.

There’s not a great deal of value in the handicap unless you fancy some absolute Wigan fireworks. I’m looking at a three-score home win so the safest option this week looks like the -14 handicap at 20/21, which implies a 51.2% probability.

Kruise Leeming anytime tryscorer @ 3/1

Leeming is only just back from injury himself but may be asked to play more minutes than Wigan would like given the injury to the unfortunate O’Neill.

If Leeming is fully fit then I always feel he is a decent bet for a try given his speed at the ruck and support play when his half-backs break.

Without much value for the likes of Liam Marshall and Abbas Miski out wide, I am going to take a punt on Leeming, up against one of his former clubs, to get Wigan back firing.

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