The Stats Zone
· Trystan Pugh

2018 Super League – Castleford Tigers vs Leeds Rhinos Preview

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AT A GLANCE

When? Saturday 19th May, 19:30

Where? St James’ Park

What channel is it on? Sky Sports Arena

Where can I stream the match? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go

Are tickets still available? http://www.rugby-league.com/tickets/magic_weekend

THE STATISTICS

THE LOWDOWN

CASTLEFORD TIGERS

Head Coach: Daryl Powell

Squad: Cook, Ellis, Foster, Gill, Hitchcox, Holmes, Massey, McMeeken, McShane, Millington, Milner, Minikin, Moors, Sene-Lefao, Shenton, Trueman, Wardle, Watts, Webster

Unavailable: Greg Eden, Ben Roberts, James Clare, Luke Gale, Gadwin Springer

  • Castleford were knocked out of the Challenge Cup last week as St Helens comfortably beat them for what was the Tigers’ second defeat in a row having gone down to Hull FC 36-12 in their previous Super League game.

  • The Tigers are still without two of their playmakers in Luke Gale and Ben Roberts with centre Michael Shenton having to fill in at fullback last week.

  • Castleford have lost four games from their 12 games so far this season having lost just three during the regular season last year.

LEEDS RHINOS

Head Coach: Brian McDermott

Squad: Ablett, Briscoe, Cuthberton, Delaney, Dwyer, Ferres, Golding, Hall, Handley, Jones-Buchanan, Moon, Myler, Oledzki, Parcell, Peteru, Smith, Walker, Ward, Watkins

Unavailable: Mitch Garbutt, Liam Sutcliffe, Anthony Mullally, Brad Singleton, Josh Walters

  • Leeds scraped by Widnes in the Challenge Cup last week but their league form remains a concern after they were defeated at home by Warrington in the previous Super League match. The Rhinos got themselves in front in the second half but the Wolves proved too good late on as they ran out 22-33 winners.

  • Anthony Mullally is suspended for the Rhinos after collecting a two-match ban for four separate offences of raising the knees against Widnes. Brett Delaney is back in the 19-man squad after recovering from injury.

  • Leeds have now lost three of their last four Super League games with a two-point win against Hull KR their only win in that run.

THE PREDICTION

Castleford face Leeds in the final game of the opening day of Magic Weekend. Leeds are out of form at the minute and were out-of-sorts once again last week despite beating Widnes in the Cup. Castleford are feeling the effects of missing key men with Luke Gale out for the foreseeable future with Ben Roberts also missing. This game presents a great opportunity for both to put pressure on those above them but with neither team in particularly good form, it’s a hard game to call. Leeds can edge a close one here but the team news could swing that in Castleford’s favour depending on who they field at fullback and in the halves.

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