#THELOWDOWN - GIANTS VS TRINITY

All the information you need to know ahead of the Giants matchup with Wakefield Trinity

The Brief:

Huddersfield Giants are aiming to get back to winning ways on Friday night, meanwhile, Wakefield will want to get back to winning ways too after losing last week.

Both teams go to battle on Friday 3^rd May at the John Smiths Stadium.

Team News:

Huddersfield are bolstered by the return of Jordan Turner and Oliver Roberts; however, Joe Wardle is absent after he goes through concussion checks.

Wakefield name an unchanged 19-man squad from last week’s defeat.

Huddersfield

🔔TEAM NEWS 🔔

Simon Woolford has named his 19-man squad for Friday's fixture against @WTrinityRL

👉 Jordan Turner and Oliver Roberts return
👉 Louis Senior named

🔽 See the full team 🔽

Read more 👉 https://t.co/e8m1WDEPql #HuddersfieldBorn #SLHudWak pic.twitter.com/11NkpuluuB
— Huddersfield Giants (@Giantsrl) May 1, 2019

Wakefield: Arona, Annakin, Caton-Brown, Crowther, Fifita, Hampshire, Hirst, Horo, Jones-Bishop, Jowitt, Kershaw, King, Kirmond, Kopczak, Lyne, Pauli, Randell, Reynolds, Wood

The Opposition:

In 2018, Wakefield finished 7^th in Super League, and finished the Super 8’s in 5^th place.

They lost Liam Finn, Scott Grix and Lee Kershaw in the offseason. But recruited strongly for the 2019 season, bringing in George King, Craig Kopczak, Ben Reynolds and Danny Brough. 

Teamwork 💯 @WTrinityRL #SLLeeWak pic.twitter.com/qwjD9a7Afn
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 2, 2019

Form:

Huddersfield have won two games in the last four. They beat Castleford Tigers 20-18 in a topsy-turvy game but lost to Leeds Rhinos 38-18 on Good Friday. They got back to winning ways on Easter Monday against London Broncos 24-19. But after a tough Easter break Warrington comfortably beat the Giants 50-19, after the Giants went into the break 12-19.

Wakefield have won two games in the last four. They beat Wigan Warriors 30-20, then lost to rivals Castleford Tigers 28-26. They then beat Leeds Rhinos 26-24 before losing to Hull FC 30-14 after a tough Easter period.

Key Players:

David Fifita

Another key player for the Wakefield is the powerful prop David Fifita. The former Cronulla forward has been a nuisance all season for opposition defenders and Giants will want to stop him before he gets into full flow on Friday night. He has 89 tackle busts so far, which is 1^st place on the leader board and has made 1452 metres in 200 carries.

Hey, @david_fifita_

Have you got a tag line for assists like this? 😱🔥#NewBeginnings pic.twitter.com/KhYwBt70Hp
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 13, 2019

Key Battles:

Akuila Uate Vs Ben Jones-Bishop

The backs will be pivotal on Friday night, Huddersfield are bolstered with the return of Jordan Turner, meanwhile, Wakefield still have Tom Johnstone and Bill Tupou out. A key battle will be Akuila Uate Vs Ben Jones-Bishop. Uate has five tries in 11 appearances and had made 961 metres in 146 carries and has 24 tackle busts. Jones-Bishop has three tries in 13 appearances and in 148 carries he has made 976 metres with 17 tackle busts. Who will come out on top when the two teams go to battle?

Uate drilling Manfredi into the ground! 😳

A big one from the @Giantsrl winger #NewBeginnings pic.twitter.com/ZOU6cz5rEv
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 9, 2019

Suaia Matagi Vs Pauli Pauli

The packs will also be a key factor in deciding the outcome of this game. Clough, Matagi and Ikahihifo will want to lay the metres and the fire-power for the Giants and will go against Pauli, Fifita and Horo.

Pauli has made 790 metres in 96 carries with 45 tackle busts and four clean breaks. Matagi has made 943 metres in 139 carries with 8 tackle busts and has made 348 tackles. Which prop will guide their team to victory on Friday?

Previous Meeting:

Wakefield narrowly beat Huddersfield in the previous meeting 17-16 in April 2019 as Danny Brough came back to haunt his former team with a late drop-goal. Tries from McGillvary which was his 200^th of his career and 150^th Super League try and a brace from McIntosh wasn’t enough as Giants succumb to a late defeat. The Giants will look to gain revenge on Friday night. 

Get your tickets for Wakefield Trinity now!