Super League: Castleford Tigers v Huddersfield Giants preview
Last Updated: 11/07/14 1:45pm
Castleford Tigers could move top of Super League on Friday if they topple Huddersfield Giants and other results go their way.
The Tigers are two points behind St Helens but have a superior points difference while Daryl Powell’s men are a point behind Leeds Rhinos after thrashing Widnes 40-20 last Thursday.
The Giants will come to Castleford licking their wounds after being surprised by Salford Red Devils at the John Smith’s Stadium last Saturday.
Tigers head coach Daryl Powell has made three changes to his 19-man squad for the visit of the Giants on Friday.
Frankie Mariano, Jake Webster and Liam Finn all return to the side, with Luke Dorn, Garreth Carvell and Michael Channing missing out against Huddersfield.
Powell liked what he saw against Widnes last time out and he believes this season’s surprise package are nearing their best form once more.
“We had a really gutsy, toughed out win against Salford, who are showing that they are coming into a bit of form, then against Widnes last week there were some real signs that we are getting back to some form,” he told the Pontefract and Castleford Express.
Consistency
“But consistency within a game we are still striving for. I just thought we gave Widnes too many opportunities through our handling errors, but there were a lot of pleasing signs from the game. I thought we played some smart rugby league.”
Anderson has made four changes to his 19-man squad to face the Tigers with Antonio Kaufusi, Jake Connor, Kruise Leeming and Jack Miller replacing Scott Grix, Danny Brough, Jason Chan and David Faiumu.
Playmaker Brough is absent as he is nursing a sore jaw after being caught with a late high shot in last weekend’s loss to Salford. Grix is also injured with an adductor tear.
“Castleford are playing with a lot of confidence and a lot of energy, they have a lot of commitment to each other,” Anderson told the club’s official website.
“This week is a good challenge all round with some of the people that aren’t there. There’s no Grix, Lunt, Brough, Murphy, Faiumu or Fairbank.
“However, if we go out and show a lot of commitment and desire to each other, the club and the shirt that they’ll be wearing then I’m quite confident.”
Castleford Tigers: Sneyd, Dixon, Webster, Shenton, Carney, Ellis, Finn, Lynch, Clark, Huby, Holmes, Mariano, Millington, Jewitt, Wheeldon, Milner, Massey, Gibson, Clare.
Huddersfield Giants: McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Robinson, Crabtree, Kopczak, Ferres, Bailey, Lawrence, Patrick, Ta'ai, Wood, Broughton, Kaufusi, Mullally, Johnson, Connor, Leeming, Miller.