Tigers are not taking the Giants for granted
HIGH-FLYING Castleford Tigers coach Daryl Powell is refusing to take the depleted Giants for granted tonight.
Powell’s side are riding high at the top of the Super League table and made it three home wins out of three with Sunday’s home success over Catalan Dragons.
Castleford have averaged 50 points a game in beating Catalans, Leeds and Leigh at The Jungle, and are widely tipped to maintain their 100% home start against the Giants – although Powell isn’t take much notice of past results.
“Huddersfield have a lot of injuries, which is not helpful,” said Powell (below). “For me it’s about us and getting our game right.
“Obviously you are mindful of the threats of the opposition and what they are going to throw at you, so we won’t be taking anything for granted and we need to start well and really get after Huddersfield.”
Meanwhile, Leeds hooker Matt Parcell says the visit of reigning Super League champions Wigan will provide the Rhinos with a yardstick to measure their improvement.
Parcell, who has helped to fill the void created by the shock departure of James Segeyaro, is confident his side have put their humiliating 66-10 defeat by Castleford behind them but says they will know more after their clash with the Warriors at Headingley on Friday night.
“It was a crazy sort of night at Castleford,” Parcell said. “I guess we’ve shown over the last three weeks the team we are and the team we can be but it’s another big test this week, which is really going to show where we’re at as a team.
“In the last month we’ve improved a lot as a team and I hope we can continue that. I feel like we’re getting some combinations going.
“Wigan are a really good team and I know from talking to the guys, it’s always a really big game against them. Everyone is really excited for Friday night.”
Leeds coach Brian McDermott, whose side have won their last five home meetings with Wigan going back to June, 2012, must decide whether to stick with centre Joel Moon as the partner for skipper Danny McGuire or revert to a specialist half-back.
Moon switched there in an emergency after the Castleford rout and has turned the clock back in helping his side to successive wins over Catalans, Wakefield and Huddersfield.
“He wanted more of a running half and it’s working for the team,” Moon said. “I’m enjoying it.
“I played it when I was young so it was pretty much getting back into the reading of it. I’ve played there for three weeks now so I’m getting better at it and I’m feeling more at home.”