Get ready for tomorrow’s clash between Hull FC and Huddersfield Giants with our match preview.
Both sides head into the game with depleted squads due to injuries and selections for international sides.
A confident Hull side have won back-to-back fixtures in impressive fashion against Castleford Tigers and Leigh Centurions.
Team News
Three Hull FC players will feature for the Combined Nations All Stars tomorrow evening, ruling them out of the tie with the Giants. Jake Connor, Chris Satae and Andre Savelio are the trio to face England at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Some positive news on the injury front for the Airlie Birds is that Joe Cator and Cameron Scott have passed fit to feature in tomorrow’s match.
But it remains a lengthy list of injuries for Brett Hodgson’s men. Carlos Tuimavave (hamstring), Josh Griffin (Achilles), Scott Taylor (foot), Josh Bowden (foot), Jamie Shaul (ACL), Masi Matongo (knee) and Harvey Barron (leg) all remain unavailable.
The Giants named 13 players in their squad yesterday, but a handful more players are expected to be involved in the match as they return from coronavirus protocols.
Jermaine McGillvary, Ricky Leutele, Aidan Sezer, Kenny Edwards and Luke Yates have been selected in Tim Sheens’ All Stars team, meaning they are unavailable, too.
Hull 18-man squad: Faraimo, Fonua, Reynolds, Sneyd, Houghton, Ma’u, Sao, Johnstone, Cator, Lane, Fash, McNamara, Brown, Swift, Wynne, Scott, Vulikijapani, Logan
Giants 13-man squad: Golding, Wardle, Gaskell, Jones, Greenwood, Wilson, Cudjoe, Gavet, Senior, Trout, Hewitt, Michael, Ashall-Bott
What’s the lowdown on the Giants?
A solitary point was all Huddersfield lost by last time out, but Ian Watson was left disappointed he lost out to his former club Salford, who played the majority of the match with just twelve men after James Greenwood’s sending off.
The Giants have struggled to sustain any kind of form this season, with Watson’s men only able to return back-to-back wins once in 2021 so far.
Their last win came in impressive fashion, though. A 44-6 away victory against Leigh last month came on the back of a surprise win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium against Warrington, something Watson will be able to use as inspiration to gear his players up for tomorrow’s clash with the Black & Whites.
But the absence of several key men will disrupt Huddersfield’s plans, with their remaining troops tasked with taking two points back to the John Smith’s Stadium.
Ones To Watch
Hull: Connor Wynne – Making his first Super League appearance of the 2021 season against Leigh on Saturday, Connor Wynne stood out like a sore thumb in a Hull side brimming with confidence. The youngster didn’t hide behind some of FC’s standout performers such as Jake Connor, Andre Savelio and Josh Reynolds. Wynne scored at the start of the second half, providing a good push on Connor’s inside shoulder after a break, and he also provided an assist for Bureta Faraimo. With Hull missing several senior players tomorrow, Wynne is likely to be amongst the action again.
Giants: Lee Gaskell – On his day, the utility man can be one of the league’s most dangerous pivots. Often involved in Huddersfield’s sweeping attacking plays, Gaskell should be considered as a constant threat. The former Bradford man was the key orchestrator in Huddersfield’s 26-20 win over Warrington Wolves earlier in the season, scoring two crucial first half tries. Brett Hodgson will no doubt have made it clear to his defenders to keep their wits about them when facing Gaskell, who is capable of throwing a dummy and slicing through the defensive line.
Key Match Details
Where: KCOM Stadium, Hull, UK
When: Friday 25 June, 7.45pm kick-off
Coverage: OuRLeague app
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