Warrington Wolves travel to the Totally Wicked Stadium to take on league leaders St. Helens in the final regular season game of the season.
SQUAD NEWS
St. Helens
Justin Holbrook welcomes back Zeb Taia from injury as he returns to the 19-man squad replacing the injured Adam Swift following last weeks derby victory over Wigan.
Ben Barba and Mark Percival could also return after being rested last week, adding significantย firepower to the side comfortablyย sat ten points clear at the top of the table.
Saints 19-man squad:ย Lomax, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Fages, Roby, Amor, Taia, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Douglas, Knowles, Thompson, Peyroux, Richardson, Grace, Lees, Ashworth, Barba.
Warrington Wolves
Steve Price is boosted by the returns of Bryson Goodwin, Ben Murdoch-Masila, and Ben Westwood into the 19-man squad.
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Morgan Smith, Pat Moran and Ben Pomeroy drop out whilst the game comes too early for new signing Bodene Thompson.
Wolves 19-man squad:ย Akauola, K.Brown, M.Brown, Charnely, Clark, Cooper, Goodwin, Hill, Hughes, G.King, T.King, Lineham, Livett, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, Ratchford, Roberts, Westwood.
HEAD TO HEAD
This fixture is steeped in history of tight affairs and last minute winners, the recent form does little to suggest otherwise with both sides claiming three wins in the last six meetings.
Mark Percival’s hattrick claimed a win for Saints earlier in the season, while in Justin Holbrooks first game last season the Wolves humbled the Saints 40-18.
The season formbook inevitably points towards Saints with eleven straight victories in the league, whereas Warrington boast three wins and a draw in their last six.
KEY BATTLE- Mark Percival v Bryson Goodwin
Ben Barba is the obvious threat to the Wolves howeverย often the beneficiary is Mark Percival. The St. Helens centre has turned into one of the biggest threats in the league with 17 tries and 11 assists this season.
Percival isn’t simply a player who finishes off moves, leading the competition in tackle busts with 129 while claiming over 2000 metres made Percival is a destructive running threat.
The player most likely tasked with stopping him is Bryson Goodwin, returning to the squad this week Goodwin offers a solid defensive game that will need to be in full effect.
Goodwin has also chipped in with three tries and three assists while proving handy with the boot with 29 goals. The outcome of this game could be decided on whether Warrington can stifle a lethal Saints left edge, and spring their own attack.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date:ย Thursday 26th July
Venue:ย Totally Wicked Stadium
Kick-off:ย 7:45pm
Referee: J. Childs
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/07/26/super-league-predictions-round-23/
