Seven games out from the start of the Super 8s Saints lead the race for the League Leaders Shield and will be looking to cement that position against the struggling Robins. Tim Sheens side are just one place off the bottom of the table with just four wins from their first 16 outings. They were beaten 42-14 by Castleford Tigers in a re-arranged game played last weekend when other sides were plotting their route to Wembley. Yet they still sit only three points off the top eight and will not yet have given up hope of securing their Super League status without the need for anything as vulgar as an away trip to London Broncos.
Saints coach Justin Holbrook has made just the one change to the 19-man squad from that which faced Hull FC on Sunday (June 3). Matty Lees comes back into the reckoning while Adam Swift misses out. That suggests there is now no doubt about the fitness of Tommy Makinson but the omission of Swift is perhaps a little surprising given that Jonny Lomax took several knocks in the win over the black and whites. Should Lomax not make it the most likely scenario is that Theo Fages will come in at stand-off to play alongside halfback Danny Richardson with Matty Smith filling the bench spot normally occupied by Fages.
Other than that don’t expect too many changes. Ben Barba committed the heinous crime of having an ordinary game against Hull FC but remains the standout player in the country, while Makinson will have Ryan Morgan inside him at centre with Mark Percival and Regan Grace on the left edge of the three-quarter line. Both were outstanding in the first half against the black and whites and their ability to exploit Hull's lack of numbers while Danny Houghton and Danny Washbrook kicked their heels on the naughty step probably proved the difference in the end.
Lees will hope to be one of four props in the 17 but faces a tough task to dislodge one of Luke Thompson, Kyle Amor, Luke Douglas or Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook. There is a chance that Holbrook will take the opportunity to rest one of these four but his policy around selection so far since his May 2017 arrival has not really been one of rotation. McCarthy-Scarsbrook can cover a number of positions and so is unlikely to be left out, so perhaps Douglas or Amor are the most vulnerable to a change. James Roby keeps on keeping on at hooker with Dom Peyroux and Zeb Taia now among the most dynamic second row pairings around. Jon Wilkin locks the scrum but will likely share time again with Morgan Knowles.
Before the loss to Castleford Rovers surprised everyone by beating Wigan at KCOM Craven Park. It was a rare highlight for the Robins in what has been a difficult first year back in the big time but does at least keep them in which a chance of securing a top eight spot. Sheens is without veteran leader Danny McGuire again, while the backs will also be missing Andrew Heffernan through injury and Thomas Minns after his well documented dalliances. Former Saint Adam Quinlan is included and should start at fullback. Goal-kicking winger Ryan Shaw has been one of the standouts for Rovers this year and in Junior Vaivai Rovers have a player with real quality who looks a threat every time he receives the ball. Chris Atkin has been in and out of the starting line-up recently but was a real find early in the season and will again be crucial to Rovers hopes. Elliot Wallis is another whose recent emergence at Super League level has been one of the most positive aspects of Rovers season so far. Liam Salter is a smart operator too, and Maurice Blair offers versatility and no little quality.
There’s more ex-Saintage in the pack with five-minute cameo merchant Mose Masoe alongside Tommy Lee, a man who was once thought to be overawed at Leigh so should be positively bricking it at the prospect of a head-to-head battle with Roby. Experience comes in the form of Nick Scruton, Ben Kavanagh, Chris Clarkson and Danny Tickle but it is difficult to suggest that any of these names should strike fear into Saints hearts, particularly on their own patch.
The teams met in Humberside, East Yorkshire if you prefer, when Saints silenced talk of bogeys and other such unscientific jiggery-pokery with a 30-6 win. You can expect the margin of victory to be something similar here. The only stumbling block appears to be whether or not Saints can raise their game after an average performance against Hull FC for a game against a Rovers side they will rightly be expected to beat with something to spare. If Saints turn it on the score could blow out, but it is more likely that we will see a home victory by something in the region of 20-24 points.
Squads;
St Helens;
1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 15. Morgan Knowles, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Dom Peyroux, 18. Danny Richardson, 19. Regan Grace, 20. Matty Lees, 23. Ben Barba.
Hull KR;
1. Adam Quinlan, 2. Junior Vaivai, 5. Ryan Shaw, 8. Nick Scruton, 10. Mose Masoe, 11. Maurice Blair, 12. James Greenwood, 13. Ben Kavanagh, 15. James Donaldson, 17. Chris Clarkson, 19. Tommy Lee, 20. Matty Marsh, 22. Liam Salter, 23. Joshua Johnson, 24. Chris Atkin, 29. Jordan Walne, 30. Joe Cator, 34. Danny Tickle, 37. Elliot Wallis
Referee: Gareth Hewer
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