2020 Super League – Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers taking place? Thursday 8th October, 2020 – 19:45 (UK)
Where is Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers taking place? Emerald Headingley Stadium
What is the expected weather for Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers? 8c, clear skies
What channel is Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers on? Sky Sports Mix
Where can I stream Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via the Sky Go app
Where can I get tickets for Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers? This match will be played behind closed doors
What was the outcome in the last meeting? Castleford Tigers 10-18 Leeds Rhinos
THE TEAM NEWS
LEEDS RHINOS
- The decision to rest their first-team stars ahead of their Challenge Cup semi-final clash with Wigan Warriors clearly paid dividends for Leeds Rhinos as they progressed to Wembley with a dominant performance in the rain.
- Leeds executed their gameplan to perfection as Richard Agar’s men sealed their place in the final and they will now turn their attention to attempting to secure their spot in the top four after Catalans Dragons leapfrogged them.
- The Rhinos went down to the Dragons in their league clash last week but they will be aiming to get back to winning ways having selected the strongest 21-man squad available to them for this clash with Castleford Tigers.
21-man squad: L. Briscoe, T. Briscoe, Cuthbertson, Donaldson, Dwyer, Gale, Handley, Holroyd, Hurrell, Leeming, Lui, Martin, Myler, Oledzki, Prior, Seumanufagai, Smith, A. Sutcliffe, L. Sutcliffe, Thompson, Walker
Unavailable: Dom Crosby, Stevie Ward, Harry Newman, Alex Mellor
Questionable:
CASTLEFORD TIGERS
- Castleford Tigers’ miserable run of form continued as they conceded in late in their contest with Hull FC to allow the Black and Whites to snatch the win, wasting the good work they had done to get back into the contest.
- The Tigers fought back from 16-26 to lead in the final five minutes but they failed to deal with a short kick-off and Hull were able to capitalise on their opportunity to condemn Castleford to a fourth straight defeat in all competitions.
- Head coach Daryl Powell has been visibly frustrated in recent weeks and he will once again be without first-choice halves pairing Danny Richardson and Jake Trueman with several other key players such as Liam Watts also remaining on the sidelines.
21-man squad: Blair, Clare, Cook, Eden, Fleming, Foster, Hepi, Martin, Massey, McMeeken, McShane, Millington, Milner, Moors, O’Brien, Olpherts, O’Neill, Peachey, Sanderson, Shenton, Turner
Unavailable: Sosaia Feki, Daniel Smith, Peter Mata’utia, Danny Richardson, Liam Watts, Oliver Holmes, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Jake Trueman, George Griffin
Questionable:
THE PREDICTION
These teams are enjoying very different seasons with Leeds Rhinos progressing to the Challenge Cup final thanks to a superb display last week whilst they are still in the hunt for a spot in the play-offs. Castleford Tigers on the other hand are enduring a miserable campaign with the top four looking well beyond them after a string of poor results. They have won just one of their eight matches in all competitions since the restart and with Leeds coming into this on the back of five wins in six, the Rhinos should be able to improve that record by winning this one by at least six points.
