Both sides head into Friday’s night game on the back of a tough loss in Round 13, yet this will be the second meeting between Trinity and Giants in a matter of months.
Trinity will be hoping to return to winning ways after their loss away to Hull FC last week, as will Huddersfield, who were thrashed by Warrington 50-19. A win for Trinity tomorrow
evening would also see them achieve a league double over the Giants and move six points
clear of the Claret and Golds.
Wakefield won in dramatic fashion last time out against the Giants, but will be without
influential playmaker Danny Brough, who kicked them to victory with the intense onepointer. It is set to be a tight and competitive encounter, with both sides aiming to bounce back quickly as they enter the second half of the Super League season.
Trinity
Trinity head coach Chris Chester admitted his side had the chances and plenty of fight against Hull FC last week, but didn’t capitalise on them, and should have ensured a better completion rate, especially in the second half.
A win against Huddersfield this time round would be Trinity’s eighth win of the season, and Trinity will be determined to retain their place up at the higher end of the Betfred Super League table.
Chris Chester has named an unchanged 19-man squad for Friday’s game, and Tyler Randell, who was the 18th man last week, is set to make his first appearance for Trinity since Round 1.
Craig Kopczak also comes back into the team after missing the Hull match with a foot injury.
An unchanged 19-man means the same Trinity side will be aiming to right their wrongs when they enter the local derby tomorrow night, reinstating their team spirit, and showcasing they are a team never beaten.
The Opponents – Giants
Simon Woolford has insisted his team must bounce back after their heavy defeat to
Warrington last Sunday. The Huddersfield coach has recognised that Trinity are a side never beaten or down fight and team spirit, and is hoping his squad will bring the same fight into Friday night’s game.
The Giants 19-man squad remains very similar to the side that faced the Wolves – although centre Jordan Turner returns, as well as Oliver Roberts, who replaces Joe Wardle, who will miss out due to a concussion protocol.
All of last week’s try-scorers against Warrington have been named however, and Trinity will no doubt be looking out for playmakers and innovative halfback pairing Oliver Russell and Matt Frawley. Others to look out for include star signing Akuila Uate, as well as Giants
servants Jermaine McGillvary and Michael Lawrence, and show and go like hooker Adam
O’Brien.
Previous meetings
Trinity only met with Huddersfield last month, and emerged victorious 17-16 in a dramatic
drop-goal victory, and they will be hoping to reiterate a similar performance on Friday.
The Giants are no strangers in being tough opposition for Trinity. In 2018, Trinity faced the Giants four times throughout the season, including a Challenge Cup fixture and once in the Super 8s. While they clinched victory at home in March, the regular season then saw Trinity agonisingly beaten 25-22 in Newcastle last May, before losing away at Huddersfield 40-28 in late July. Trinity finally overcame them in the Super 8s however to convincingly win 42-16, and finished a place above Huddersfield in the table.
And Trinity fans will never forget the memorable length of the field try from Tom Johnstone in 2016 against Giants, which grabbed the headlines, nor the dramatic 2017 home encounter, where a crucial Sam Williams conversion won the game for Trinity, 28-26.
Match Preview by Emma Holley