SL Preview: Huddersfield v London
New signing Ukuma Ta’ai could make his Huddersfield debut as they look to follow up last weekend’s impressive win over St Helens against London Broncos this Sunday.
The Broncos could themselves hand a debut to one of their new signings, in the shape of former Widnes back-row or centre Shane Grady, who joins the club on a two-year deal from Australian side Thirroul Butchers.
Ta’ai replaces Dale Ferguson in the Giants squad, after he joined Super League rivals Hull KR on a month’s loan this week.
Giants coach Paul Anderson said: “Ukuma is a natural replacement for Ferguson within the 19 and gives us some more options ahead of the game.
“We don’t yet know his best position as it’s very, very early days for him, but the reality is he has come to play and looks in reasonable shape although he will clearly get much fitter as time progresses, but at this stage he is in my thoughts for London.”
London have lost three players through injury since last Sunday’s opening day defeat to Widnes, with David Howell already confirmed as missing with a broken arm.
He is joined on the sidelines by inspirational half-back Craig Gower and fellow Aussie Michael Robertson. The trio are replaced in the squad by Liam Colbon, Mike McKeeken and Grady.
Huddersfield 19-man squad: Grix, George, Cudjoe, Wardle, McGillvary, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Kopczak, Ferres, O’Donnell, Faiumu, Patrick, Chan, Ta’ai, Murphy, Cording, Fielden
London 19-man squad: Bailey, Bryant, Channing, Colbon, Dixon, Dorn, Grady, Hurst, Kaufusi, Krasniqi, Lee, Lovell, McMeeken, Melling, O’Callaghan, Randall, Rodney, Wheeldon, Witt.
Prediction: Huddersfield should have no trouble securing back-to-back wins – home win.
Stats:
Huddersfield have won their last eleven matches against London Broncos/Harlequins. The capital side’s last win was as Harlequins – 24-0 at Twickenham Stoop on 8 March, 2008.
The capital side’s last win against Huddersfield as London Broncos was 16-12 at Griffin Park, Brentford, on 3 September, 2005.
The Giants won all six of their home matches with Harlequins (2006-2011), to go with four against London Broncos in 2012, 2005 and 2004. The club’s last away win against the Giants as the Broncos was 30-22 on 4 May, 2003, at McAlpine Stadium (as it was then known).
Danny Brough has scored in fourteen successive matches against London Broncos/Harlequins, for four different clubs, as follows. 1 for Hull FC (2006), 2 for Castleford (2006), 5 for Wakefield (2008-2010) and 6 for current club Huddersfield (2010-2012).
Super League summary:
Huddersfield won 16
London Broncos won 15
1 draw
Huddersfield highest score. 64-14 (H, 2006) (also widest margin)
London Broncos highest score. 43-12 (H, 2001) (Widest margin. 40-4, H, 1999)
