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Round 12 Preview

7 hrs

Round 12 Preview

With Wembley on the horizon, attention turns to the Betfred Super League for the next two weeks. Round 12 gets underway on Thursday night and is set to be a tasty one. 

Here is a closer look at what is to come.

Round 12 kick-off at the ‘Leopards Den’ as Adrian Lam’s Leigh side welcome Hull FC who have a few familiar faces.

The sides have met once this season and saw an entertaining draw, the only one in the Super League. 

Speaking of entertaining, despite being on the losing side, the Leopards faced local rivals Wigan which they suffered a 36-28 defeat.

David Armstrong misses out again for the hosts, meanwhile, Gareth O’Brien will also be unavailable.

Hull FC will be looking to bounce back after a late Ryan Hall try saw victory snatched away from them at AMT Headingley last weekend.

 

During the clash, former New Zealand international Jordan Rapana was stretched off and he is replaced in the squad for the trip to Leigh. 

The Black and Whites will want to cut their losing sequence. Since the away win at the Wolves, John Cartwright’s side have lost four successive games including to the Giants, who hadn’t won a Super League 

game until that Magic WKND victory.

Hull FC’s Aidan Sezer is set to make his 250th career appearance.

Friday night could be a sneak preview into the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Final, as the Wolves welcome the Robins, a meeting that will be repeated in just over a fortnight at Wembley.

Sam Burgess’ side were dispatched of empathetically by Trinity last Saturday. 

The Wolves are without Paul Vaughan and Toby King who both drop out the side. Winger, Josh Thewlis will return after his absence due to missing last week as a result of concussion protocols.

If the Wolves are in scoring form, Marc Sneyd could move up the charts. Five goals would see the half-back move joint fifth with Andy Farrell in the all-time Super League goals list.

Willie Peters’ high flying Robins moved back to the top of the table after being briefly demoted. Arguably, the Robins weren’t at their best against the Giants but a dominant last quarter saw them take the success comfortably.

Just one change is made to the squad. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is unavailable after receiving a two match suspension, meanwhile, Lee Kershaw is the player who replaces him.

Elsewhere on Friday, the Giants will be looking for their first home win as they welcome the Saints.

Luke Robinson will be delighted to welcome back Tui Lolohea into the squad. The Tongan international will be a big boost to the side.

After pressure was mounting, the Saints responded well with a 40-0 hammering of the Dragons. Young half-back, who turned 19 last weekend, George Whitby scored a hat-trick in a a player of the match performance.

Matt Whitley won’t feature due to failing his Head Injury Assessment on the night and must now be stood down to follow protocols. 18-year-old Jake Davies comes into the squad for the first time this season.

The Saints have won the last 11 meetings against the Giants.

Danny McGuire will face his former club, as he will lead his Tigers’ side into battle with the Rhinos.

Castleford will go into the contest with confidence after a drubbing of the Red Devils. Australian full-back, Tex Hoy showed his class scoring a hat-trick in the victory.

The Tigers have failed to defeat the Rhinos since their Magic WKND success in 2023.

Brad Arthur’s Rhinos have been going out their business quietly and have crept up the table as a result. The success against Hull FC was their fourth in the last five matches, which has seen them surge to fourth position.

After a turbulent week, the Dragons will be hoping their new era gets off to a good start but the World Champions stand in their way.

The Dragons were completely outplayed last week at the Saints and pressure continues to mount on the side from the South of France.

Matt Peet’s Warriors conceded an unusually high number of points for them last weekend, however, they still was about to be the Leopards in the ‘Battle of the Borough’.

Bevan French proved at is dazzling best, pulling the strings. One of his try assists was for Zack Eckersley, who during the clash was stretchered off. He will be unavailable.

A brace for French in France would see him reach 100 tries in the Betfred Super League. 

Trinity and the Red Devils conclude the weekend on Sunday. 

Trinity moved into the play-off spots after victory last weekend and will be looking to continue their good form since returning to the top flight.

Caius Faatilli has been a huge find for Trinity and the prop was on the scoresheet twice last Sunday.

Veteran forward, Jay Pitts could make his 150th appearance for the club.

The Red Devils saw a welcome return to Nene Macdonald last week. The centre scored twice and proved a handful, despite being on the losing side for Paul Rowley’s side. Macdonald is just one appearance away from 200 in his career. 

Jayden Nikorima is set to be sidelined which will make their task in hand tougher. 

Round 11 Round Up

19 May 2025

Round 11 Round Up
Highlights | Tigers v Red Devils

18 May 2025

Highlights | Tigers v Red Devils
Highlights | Trinity v Wolves

18 May 2025

Highlights | Trinity v Wolves
Highlights | Robins v Giants

17 May 2025

Highlights | Robins v Giants
Highlights | Rhinos v Hull FC

16 May 2025

Highlights | Rhinos v Hull FC