After booking their place in the semi finals of the Challenge Cup after beating holders Hull FC last week, St. Helens welcome a struggling Hull KR side to the Totally Wicked Stadium.
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SQUAD NEWS
St. Helens
St Helens bring in Matty Lees in place of Adam Swift in their only change to the squad that narrowly beat. Hull FC 25-22 to progress to the Challenge Cup semi-finals last week.
Table-topping Saints have already guaranteed their place in the top eight and will be looking to increase their lead at the summit with a routine victory over The Robins.
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St. Helens’ 19-man squad: Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson, Ryan Morgan, Mark Percival, Theo Fages, Matty Smith, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Zeb Taia, Jon Wilkin, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Luke Douglas, Morgan Knowles, Luke Thompson, Dom Peyroux, Danny Richardson, Regan Grace, Matty Lees, Ben Barba.
Hull KR
Struggling Hull KR are forced to make changes to the team beaten 42-10 by Castleford Tigers in Super League last week.
Rovers are without loan hooker Aaron Smith as he’s unable to face his parent club as part of the arrangement, but welcome prop Josh Johnson back into proceedings following a week’s suspension. Matty Marsh and Elliot Wallis also come in for Kieren Moss and Will Dagger.
Hull KR’s 19-man squad: Adam Quinlan, Junior Vaivai, Ryan Shaw, Nick Scruton, Mose Masoe, Maurice Blair, James Greenwood, Ben Kavanagh, James Donaldson, Chris Clarkson, Tommy Lee, Matty Marsh, Liam Salter, Josh Johnson, Chris Atkin, Jordan Walne, Joe Cator, Danny Tickle, Elliot Wallis.
HEAD TO HEAD
St Helens have a good record over their Humberside rivals having won the last four meetings between the two sides, the Robins’ having last beaten Saint back in March of 2015.
Saints have also been successful in last four home meetings with KR too – the visitor’s last away win coming in June 2013.
2018 Meeting (23/3/18):
Hull KR 6, St Helens 30 (Super League Round 7)
Super League Summary:
Played: 23
St Helens win: 13
Hull KR win: 9
Draw: 1
Highs and Lows:
St Helens highest score: 68-12 (H, 2010)
Hull KR highest score: 40-10 (H, 2014)
KEY BATTLE- Danny Richardson (St Helens) vs Ryan Shaw (Hull KR)
Tipped for silverware on both fronts in 2018, Justin Holbrook’s men are clear favourites to pick up their 15th win of the campaign when taking on Tim Sheens’ side tomorrow. Saints’ Head Coach has singled out Danny Richardson as the hosts’ key player in the clash.
Richardson has the longest scoring streak amongst Super League players, having registered points in St Helens’ last 18 matches, and is also the leading points scorer in Super League this season with a gigantic total of 168.
He has also kicked the most goals in 2018 (77) and will be expecting to add to his tally against his East Yorkshire opponents.
However his opposing kicker, Ryan Shaw, has had an equally impressive season; especially given he is playing in a poor Hull KR side in comparison.
Shaw is renowned for accurate kicking; his conversion percentage of 84.90% (45/53) places him at fourth-best in Super League. Richardson, meanwhile, doesn’t even make the top 10. If Rovers are going to pull off the shock of the season, Shaw will be the reason why.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: 08/06/2018
Venue: Totally Wicked Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Referee: G. Hewer
WHO WILL WIN?
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