Trinity head into this local Yorkshire derby on the back of a good win over Salford Red Devils last Sunday. The game comes after a short five day turnaround, but Trinity are looking for back to back wins and to build momentum in their run of home games heading up to the Easter period.
Huddersfield also emerged victorious last weekend in the capital, securing their third win of the Super League season in a high scoring game against London Broncos. The Giants will travel to the Mobile Rocket Stadium this Friday evening with two consecutive wins already under their belt.
With both teams banking wins in the previous round and battling to find form, we should expect an entertaining display of rugby league, where both sides are clearly confident and able in attack, as their recent score lines have highlighted.
Trinity
Trinity head coach Chris Chester has stressed the importance of picking up points while his side have the home advantage. A win against Huddersfield would be Trinity’s fifth of the season, after falling agonisingly short to the likes of St Helens and Warrington, but registering spectacular wins against Catalans, Leeds, Hull FC and Salford respectively, showcasing the side’s potential.
Last week’s win also meant that Trinity moved up to 4th place in the Betfred Super League table on points difference, but that doesn’t make for complacency, as teams below have also amassed eight points, with three teams following closely on six points, including Huddersfield.
Trinity have made just one change to the squad from Sunday in bid to make it two wins in five days, as Danny Kirmond returns from a two match suspension, and Bill Tupou misses out after sustaining a groin injury late on in the Salford game. Unfortunately, Bill misses the next three months.
Giants
The Giants currently sit 9th in the table, and will be looking to level Trinity’s league points on Friday. They have already secured wins against Wigan, Hull KR and London and appear to have found their feet in time for Round 9 of the campaign.
Simon Woolford’s side remains the same bar one, as youngster Oliver Russell comes into the team. All of their last week’s try scorers against London have been named, and Trinity will no doubt be watching out for the likes of halfback Lee Gaskell and his dynamic pairing with former Canterbury Bulldog Matt Frawley, as well as recent star signing and Fiji and Australian international Akuila Uate. Others to look out for include Giants servants Jermaine McGillvary and Michael Lawrence, Jordan Turner in the centres, and Joe Wardle on loan from Castleford.
Previous meetings
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