St. Helens host Hull KR at Langtree Park on Friday night. It’s an must win game for the Saints as they find themselves in an unusual position, 6 points off the top 4. This will be a good start for them to push on and try and get in a good position going into the Super 8’s.
LAST TIME OUT
Saints come into this game on the back of 33-16 defeat in the South of France. In what was a spirited first half performance from Saints, one they still managed to lose 13-6. There was much to be happy withย for the Saints fans. McCarthy-Scarsbrook went over early on after a great passage of play. Saints couldn’t pounceย on their possessionย and where made to pay for it with back to back tries from Catalan through Yaha and Albert. The second half started well for Saints after Adam Swift went over to claw his side back in the game. However, after losing Fages at halftime, fatigue started to set in. A blistering 15 minute spell from Catalan, in which theyย scored 3 tries and all butย seal the game. Catalan scored another late on to put the icing on the cake.
Hull KR come into this game on the back of a 20-18 defeat at the hands of Wigan Warriors. It was rather poor game of rugby league that wasn’t helped by the poor conditions. However, Wigan got off to a great start with 2 tries through Manfredi. Hull KR where poor in the opening half with countless handling errors and lack of the ball to mount any serious attack. However, Rovers scored just before halftime to land some hope going into he second half. Rovers started the second half well, scoring 2 quick, back to back tries through Minns and Allgood to stretch KR’s lead to 18-8. KR looked in control with 15 minutes to go, however, those handling errors and poor discipline kicked in again, and Wigan would score 2 late tries to snatch the points from KR.
KEY BATTLES
Hull KR will be without Campese, Sio and Boudebza in this game, which will impact them massively. Although they welcome back Horne, Cockayne and Donaldson, you just feel they are lacking that experience in their side. Especially with the loss of Campese, who has been influential the past few weeks since returning.
Saints will be without Walsh and Fages, 2 players who have experiencedย some of the highs in what has been a poor season. Roby as always will be key for Saints, if he is on his game, as usual, he’ll be a tough player to handle. He pulls all the strings and can change a game in an instant. When Roby starts to click, Saints click as a team.
Jack Owens hasn’t exactly got going at Saints as of yet, however, it only takes 1 game for him to notch a couple of tries to boost his confidence and this could be the game to do that.ย The young winger just needs to get some confidence and I’m sure the tries will start to come.
This game will be won with the forwards, down the middle. Saints have a great set of forwards with the likes of LMS, Walmsley, Amor and co. However, these lads haven’t exactly had the impact they did last season. While the likes of Greenwood, Blair and Lunt have been in great form of late, I still feel that Saints will be too big and strong for them
PREDICTION
Saints had a great first half against Catalans last week, but with losing key players through injury, ran out of steam in the second half. If they play like they did last week, they’ll beat Rovers. Rovers where poor against Wigan last week, in a sloppy game of rugby. Their top 8 chances are all but over so I feel they’ll plan for the Middle 8’s now.
St. Helens by 20
SQUADS
St. Helens 19-man Squad:ย Jonny Lomax, Jordan Turner, Mark Percival, Adam Swift, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Atelea Vea, Jon Wilkin, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lama Tasi, Greg Richards, Luke Thompson, Dominique Peyroux, Joe Greenwood, Jack Owens, Shannon McDonnell, Matty Fleming, Morgan Knowles.
Hull KR 19-man Squad:ย Iain Thornley, Kieran Dixon, Albert Kelly, Adam Walker, Shaun Lunt, Mitch Allgood, Maurice Blair, Graeme Horne, Chris Clarkson, James Donaldson, James Green, Dane Tilse, Ben Cockayne, James Greenwood, Thomas Minns, Matty Marsh, George Lawler, Robbie Mulhern, Joe Wardill.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee:ย Jack Smith
Venue:ย Langtree Park, St. Helens
Date/Time:ย Friday 17th June 2016 – 20:00pm GMT
