Ridiculous decision to give Huddersfield Giants a break, claims Warrington Wolves coach Tony Smith

The Giants avoided having to play a second match over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend after being given permission to re-arrange their round-16 fixture with St Helens because it clashed with the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

The game was re-arranged for Friday, June 16, which was a free date for both clubs after they were knocked out of the Challenge Cup.

While Huddersfield were able to rest their players, Warrington suffered a second heavy defeat in four days when they lost 38-12 to Salford on Monday which saw them drop into the bottom four.

The Giants are one of three teams below them in the table but they can leapfrog Smith’s men with victory over Warrington on Sunday.

“I’m furious for different reasons,” said Smith. “Huddersfield are breathing down our neck at the other end of the league and to give them a huge advantage is ridiculous. It almost penalises you for being successful in the Challenge Cup.

“We’ve copped a battering from two top teams and they’re putting their feet up in some Jacuzzi.”

Leeds Rhinos will be without forward Stevie Ward for Friday’s Super League game against Leigh.

He has been banned for one match after submitting an early guilty plea to a grade B charge of punching during last week’s win over Warrington.

Four players go before the RFL tonight following Catalans Dragons’ 23-18 win over Hull on Monday. Hull’s Liam Watts and Darrell Griffin, plus Catalans duo Sam Moa and Julian Bousquet face various charges.

Castleford’s Mike McMeeken faces a high tackle charge.