Super League: Hull v Castleford betting preview and TV details

Betfred Super League
Sky Sports Arena and Mix, 7.45pm Thursday

It's 223 days since Hull last won a rugby league match – the Black & Whites' last-gasp loss to neigh­bours Hull KR six days ago was their 12th consecutive defeat and coach Lee Radford and his team are under early-season pressure as they welcome Castleford to the KCOM Stadium.

By contrast, the Tigers made an excellent start to their Betfred Super League campaign, easing past Catalans 20-4 at The Jungle.

Cas have been cut to 15-2 for Grand Final glory and are 8-11 to inflict more misery on Hull.

On the face of it that looks good business, but there are reasons for believing that things may not be entirely straightforward for Daryl Powell’s side.

The visitors are without forwards Matt Cook and Mike McMeeken, whereas Hull are able to welcome back Jake Connor from suspension and Joe Westerman from a knee injury.

The return of Connor is parti­cularly significant. He has emerged as one of the compe­tition’s leading creative talents and is 7-1 to mark his comeback by claiming the man-of-the-match award.

Cas won 28-8 against an injury-ravaged Hull outfit on their last visit in September but have lost on their three previous trips.

That includes a 26-24 defeat two years ago against a Hull side reduced to 12 men by the first-half sending-off of Liam Watts. He will be in Tigers colours on this occasion and is 6-1 to notch a rare try.

The tryscorer markets are probably worth concentrating on instead of the match betting and Cas winger Greg Eden is the man to focus on.

The Tigers flyer bagged a brace in the opening-round victory over the Dragons, just as he did in his last appearance at the KCOM Stadium.

Eden’s tryscoring record since the start of 2017 is remarkable. He has touched down in 30 of his 42 appearances - a 71 per cent strike rate.

He can be backed at 8-11 to cross the whitewash against Hull, which implies he has a 58 per cent chance of scoring so the price looks decent value.

Recommendation
G Eden to score a try
3pts 8-11 Sky Bet

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