Kear explains London revival and
Sharp wary of Reds

Official English Super League Round 19 Previews: Saturday Games - London v Hull and Salford v Huddersfield

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Kear explains London revival

Hull coach John Kear believes a change in style has been responsible for London Broncos? improvement in form as the two sides prepare to meet at Bridgend.

The Broncos are currently unable to use Brentford?s Griffin Park due to ground maintenance and are once again taking games ?on the road?. They also play Leeds in Perpignan next week.

Tony Rea?s side have recovered from a mid-season slump to put themselves back in the play-off picture and Kear, whose Hull side are fourth, attributes this to a more straight-forward approach.

Kear said: ?They have changed their style of play since the start of the season. They were playing an expansive game that we don?t usually associate with London and they seemed to lose their way a little.

?Now they have rolled their sleeves up and gone back to basics. They are a side in form but what they should also be aware of is that we are a side in form too and if we win it will be our fourth straight victory.?

Kear is ready to welcome back utility player Richard Whiting after a month out with a shoulder injury but prop Paul King has been ruled out through illness.

The former England coach added: ?It is good to have Richard back as he is an England international and can play in a number of positions. He is a winner and you can tell that by the way he plays.

?You would like to have Paul King in your side but every time Liam Higgins has played he has done nothing wrong at all. He will give 100% and he has worked very hard for this opportunity.?

London have captain Mark McLinden available again after recovering from a knee injury.

London v Hull, Brewery Field Stadium, Bridgend, Saturday July 2

London 18-man: Bradley-Qalilawa, Dorn, Highton, Haumono, Hopkins, Leuluai, Lolohea, Lucky Luisi, Mateo, McLinden, Mbu, O?Halloran, Purdham, Sykes, Tookey, Trindall, Wells, Williams.

Hull 18-man: Briscoe, Blacklock, Yeaman, R. Horne, Dowes, McMenemy, Kearney, Cooke, Tony, Thackray, Saxton, Chester, Higgins, Carvell, Brough, G. Horne, Barnett, Whiting.

Referee: B Thaler

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Sharp wary of Reds

Huddersfield Giants coach Jon Sharp is expecting a tough challenge from a reinvigorated Salford City Reds when they meet in engage Super League on Saturday.

The Reds have slipped into relegation trouble after losing their last seven engage Super League games but Sharp believes his play-off chasing side are in for a tough contest at The Willows.

Both clubs had last weekend off due to their early elimination from the Powergen Challenge Cup and Sharp feels the break will certainly have benefited the Reds.

Sharp said: ?Obviously we would have preferred to have been playing but we have worked hard this week and it has given us chance to freshen up and re-energise some players.

?Yet I think it would have helped them too and given them the chance to regroup. I think they are playing very well but have not picked up the points. They have played okay.

?It is very tight with two going down. That has put pressure on but we are also happy with how we are performing. There are 10 games left and still plenty of points to play for.?

The Giants got back to winning ways after three successive defeats with victory over Wakefield in their last outing.

That win has left them just a point outside the top six and success over the Reds would lift them back into the play-off places if London Broncos lose to Hull.

Sharp added: ?We had momentum against Warrington and Bradford going into the Wakefield game, even though we didn?t win. Wakefield was a tough game physically but the weekend off helped us get over some bumps and bruises.

?When we are at our best we are very good, it is just a matter of staying healthy. Our best 17 is good, but unfortunately we pick injuries up. That is the game.?

Huddersfield are still without captain Ben Roarty with a neck injury but Salford include their new loan signing from Bradford, Andy Smith.

Salford v Huddersfield, The Willows, Saturday July 2

Salford 18-man: Hodgson, Littler, McAvoy, Fitzpatrick, Beverley, Robinson, Rutgerson, Alker, Langi, Coley, Shipway, Charles, Jonkers, Haggerty, Baldwin, Sibbit, Smith, Highton.

Huddersfield 18-man: Reilly, O?Hare, Evans, Donlan, Thorman, March, Drew, Gannon, Nero, Gene, Smith, Crabtree, Grayshon, White, Jackson, Clayton, McDonald, St Hilaire.

Referee: R Silverwood

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Thanks to www.superleague.co.uk for these great articles.