JIM LENIHAN will lead Huddersfield Giants at the Accu Stadium for the first time – and hope that leads to a first win as head coach.
Since he took charge in May, Huddersfield have lost all six fixtures, four of them away plus a home game on the road at Dewsbury and last Saturday’s Magic Weekend loss to York Knights.
Lenihan has been forced into two changes after forwards Asher O’Donnell (ankle) and Chris Patolo (head) suffered injuries at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
But those losses are offset by potential returns for Sam Hewitt and George King.
Kurt Haggerty has made three changes to his Bradford Bulls squad, including the return of Will Gardiner two weeks on from being hospitalised by a concerning head injury against St Helens.
Loghan Lewis and Zac Fulton have also been named although coach Haggerty has admitted both are still carrying knocks.
Alfie Leake, Cameron Bate and Leon Ruan make way as the Bulls seek a first win in five.
SQUADS
Giants: 1 Niall Evalds, 2 Adam Swift, 3 Jacob Gagai, 4 Taane Milne, 6 Tui Lolohea, 8 Tristan Powell, 9 Zac Woolford, 12 Sam Hewitt, 13 Harry Rushton, 14 Fenton Rogers, 15 Matty English, 16 George King, 17 Joe Greenwood, 18 Kieran Rush, 20 Mathieu Cozza, 21 George Flanagan, 29 Tanguy Zenon, 32 Oliver Russell, 34 Connor Wrench, 40 Cole Geyer, 43 Zane Dunford
Outs: 11 Asher O’Donnell, 23 Chris Patolo
Ins: 12 Sam Hewitt, 16 George King
Bulls: 1 Caleb Aekins, 4 Waqa Blake, 5 Ethan Ryan, 6 Jayden Nikorima, 8 Ryan Sutton, 9 Andy Ackers, 11 Dan Russell, 13 Joe Mellor, 14 Mitch Souter, 15 Eribe Doro, 16 Ebon Scurr, 22 Luke Hooley, 23 Connor Wynne, 24 Guy Armitage, 25 Eliot Peposhi, 32 Chris Atkin, 33 Jack Ornondroyd, 36 Riley Dean
Outs: 27 Alfie Leake, 29 Cameron Bate, 30 Leon Ruan
Ins: 10 Loghan Lewis, 12 Zac Fulton, 19 Will Gardiner
Referee: Matty Lynn
STATS
Last ten meetings:
Bradford 26, Huddersfield 14 (SLR5, 20/3/26)
Huddersfield 52, Bradford 26 (SLR21, 20/7/14)
Bradford 16, Huddersfield 54 (SLR13, 18/5/14)
(at Etihad Stadium, Manchester)
Bradford 18, Huddersfield 66 (SLR5, 16/3/14)
Bradford 58, Huddersfield 6 (SLR27, 7/9/13)
Bradford 6, Huddersfield 42 (SLR16, 26/5/13)
(at Etihad Stadium, Manchester)
Huddersfield 18, Bradford 43 (SLR5, 3/3/13)
Huddersfield 12, Bradford 34 (SLR25, 19/8/12)
Bradford 6, Huddersfield 20 (SLR12, 22/4/12)
Bradford 36, Huddersfield 0 (SLR22, 17/7/11)
Super League summary
Huddersfield won 13
Bradford won 26
Huddersfield highest score: 66-18 (A, 2014) (also widest margin)
Bradford highest score: 78-18 (H, 2001) (also widest margin)
ANDY ACKERS needs one appearance to reach 300 for his career.
– 17 for Bradford Bulls (2026)
– 36 for Leeds Rhinos (2024-2025)
– 74 for Salford Red Devils (2020-2023)
– 66 for Toronto Wolfpack (2018-2020)
– 48 for London Broncos (2016-2017)
– 56 for Swinton Lions (2014-2015)
– 2 for England (2022)
ERIBE DORO needs one appearance to reach 100 for his career.
– 51 for Bradford Bulls (2023-2024, 2025, loan, 2026)
– 9 for Hull KR (2025)
– 8 for Halifax Panthers (2023)
– 27 for Widnes Vikings (2021-2022, loan)
– 4 for Warrington Wolves (2020-2021)
WAQA BLAKE needs three tries to reach 100 for his career.
– 21 for Bradford Bulls (2025-2026)
– 11 for St Helens (2024)
– 28 for Parramatta Eels (2019-2023)
– 34 for Penrith Panthers (2015-2019)
– 3 for Fiji (2017, 2022-2024)
(0 for NSW City (2015)