Sam Taylor previews last year’s Challenge Cup Winners Warrington Wolves against current Champions St Helens. This is what we have to look forward to.
FORM LINE
Warrington
Warrington were defeated by Wigan last week after Chris Hill was sent off in the first half. Despite the defeat Warrington were probably the more impressive of the two sides.
Matty Ashton made his Super League debut in the full back position and he seemed to be a nuisance in attack using his speed which saw him become Championship top try-scorer last season.
St Helens
Saints started their season in emphatic fashion with a 48-8 win over Salford.
Jonny Lomax once again showed his class in the opening game while young Jack Welsby and Alex Walmsley were also the pick of the bunch.
They have not last a game since last year’s Challenge Cup Final against Warrington
SQUAD NEWS
Warrington Wolves
Chris Hill will miss the game through suspension. New signing Leilani Latu still doesn’t make the side despite turning out for their reserves last weekend. Back rower Ellis Robson comes in to the squad.
Steve Price is likely to pick Luis Johnson or Matt Davis in place of Hill.
Warrington 21-man squad: 1. Stefan Ratchford 2. Tom Lineham 3. Anthony Gelling 4. Toby King 5. Josh Charnley 6. Blake Austin 9. Daryl Clark 10. Mike Cooper 11. Ben Currie 13. Ben Murdoch-Masila 14. Jason Clark 15. Joe Philbin 17. Jake Mamo 18. Sitaleki Akauola 19. Matt Davis 20. Danny Walker 21. Dec Patton 22. Luis Johnson 23. Luther Burrell 26. Matty Ashton 27. Ellis Robson
St Helens
Lachlan Coote went off injured last week and will sit out this week with a minor medial collateral ligament injury while Kyle Amor missed out. Tom Nisbet comes in to the squad while Morgan Knowles returns from injury.
Saints are likely to line up with Jack Welsby at full back with Kevin Naiqama on the wing and Matty Costello in the centre.
St Helens 21 man squad: 3. Kevin Naiqama, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Regan Grace, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Theo Fages, 8. Alex Walmsley, 10. Luke Thompson, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Dom Peyroux, 13. LMS, 14. Morgan Knowles, 15. Matty Lees, 17. Jack Ashworth, 18. Joseph Paulo, 19. Aaron Smith, 20. James Bentley, 21, Matty Costello, 22. Jack Welsby, 23. Joe Batchelor, 27. Lewis Dodd, 30. Tom Nisbet.
KEY STAT
Warrington have had the upper hand in games which matter the most like last year’s Challenge Cup and 2018’s play-off semi but Wire haven’t beaten Saints in a regular league game since 5th May 2017 which was Kieron Cunningham’s last ever game in charge of Saints.
BATTLE TO WATCH
The battle to watch definitely has to be Blake Austin’s battle with Jonny Lomax. Austin Was given a new half-back partner in Stefan Ratchford last week but it was hard to judge them given the fact they had their backs against the wall being a man down. Austin was superb for most of last season however he struggled playing against St Helens last season.
Jonny Lomax is at the top of his game and last week he was doing what he does best. Setting up tries. Lomax will want to continue his form against Warrington
GAME DETAILS
Date: 6.2.20
Venue: Halliwell Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 19:45
