Super League: Leeds Rhinos head to Hull FC in Super 8s
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Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott has rested players for his side’s Super 8s trip to Hull FC, with Wembley in mind next week as the West Yorkshire side prepare to play Hull KR to retain the Challenge Cup.
The Headingley outfit are odds-on at 4/7 with Coral to win at the KC Stadium and McDermott has said he will not apologise for squad rotation: “Of course I’m tempted and there’s no apology for that,” McDermott said in relation to resting players. “There will be some players stood down this week.
“It’s not like it’s round five of the season. There are a lot of players who have played a lot of game time and physically they need that rest.
“It’s the right thing to do regardless of the result on Friday night. I think I’d be resting some blokes anyway if we weren’t in the Challenge Cup final.”
The Rhinos recorded an emphatic 25-18 win over Wigan last time out and look in superb form going into the clash with Lee Radford’s side.
Danny McGuire, Ryan Hall, Joel Moon and Kallum Watkins all scored, however the latter duo are two of those rested, while the former are 5/4 and odds-on at 8/13 to cross respectively.
For Hull, Tom Lineham will be key and having gone joint with Wigan’s Joe Burgess at the top of the Super League scoring charts on 21 plus the fact the Burgess will miss his match, the 22-year-old won’t get a better chance to leapfrog his compatriot and is 9/1 to cross the whitewash first.
McDermott’s men will have to be at their best on Humberside, after the Airlie Birds beat St Helens in an impressive 32-22 away victory last time out. Curtis Naughton will be aiming to build on his hat-trick and is evens to score anytime, while Jamie Shaul is 6/5 in the same market.
Coral’s top tip: Naughton to score anytime @ evens
