SUPER LEAGUE PREVIEW | Warrington Wolves vs Hull FC
Third and fourth place go head to head with just two points separating Warrington and Hull FC. Here’s everything you need to know…
TEAM NEWS
Warrington Wolves
Head coach Steve Price makes three changes to the squad that suffered a first defeat in eleven against Wigan last Saturday at Magic Weekend.
Mike Cooper didn’t make the line-up after picking up a hamstring injury, while Bryson Goodwin picked up a head knock during the game and Sitaleki Akauola has been handed a one-match suspension.
That presents the opportunity for both Luis Johnson and Pat Moran to make their first Super League appearances for the Wolves, while Ben Pomeroy is also in the squad for the first time since re-joining the club last month.
Warrington 19-man squad: Ratchford, Lineham, Atkins, K Brown, Roberts, Hill, Clark, Hughes, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, G King, Livett, M Brown, L Johnson, Moran, Charnley, Pomeroy, Westwood.
Hull FC
Head coach Lee Radford lost more players to injury in Hull FC’s derby win over Hull KR at Magic Weekend.
Josh Griffin could be out for three months with a knee injury, while Scott Taylor drops out of the squad with a shoulder knock.
Brad Fash returns from a month out with a broken jaw and Jordan Lane also comes in, while the other change sees Jack Sanderson in line for a debut in place of Kirk Yeaman.
Hull FC 19-man squad: Shaul, Houghton, Hadley, Minichiello, Connor, Green, Washbrook, Fash, Manu, Litten, Paea, Logan, Lane, Miloudi, Matongo, Scott, Sanderson, Westerman, Harris.
HEAD TO HEAD
Hull FC got the better of Warrington earlier in the season, winning 21-12 at a freezing KCOM Stadium in a match that saw red cards for both Declan Patton and Liam Watts.
Warrington haven’t beaten Hull at the Halliwell Jones Stadium since a 46-16 win in 2015, with a 22-22 draw last season and a 19-12 defeat the year before that.
KEY BATTLE – Stefan Ratchford vs Jamie Shaul
There are plenty of exciting match-ups in this big game, but one that will be important is the battle between two of Super League’s best full-backs.
Stefan Ratchford is having a great season with the Wolves and is a key creator with 11 try assists so far, and he has been scoring them too recently with four tries in his last four Super League matches.
Jamie Shaul has continued to press his case for an England call-up with another fine season as well, notching seven tries and six assists, and is even more crucial to Hull’s chances at the moment in the absence of almost every first-choice back.
KEY DETAILS
Date: Friday 25th May
Venue: Halliwell Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Referee: Gareth Hewer
WHO WILL WIN?
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