Saints v Wakefield Trinity - Preview

Super League returns this week as Saints host Wakefield Trinity in a Round 19 meeting on Friday (June 29, kick-off 7.45pm).

Justin Holbrook's side had last week off as the international game had it's one-week summer. England travelled to Denver where they beat New Zealand 36-18, a game in which four Saints played a part. Jonny Lomax, Mark Percival, James Roby and Tommy Makinson all featured for Wayne Bennett's side while Luke Thompson also made the trip. Thompson was unfortunate to miss out on selection for the match day 17 particularly given that he was selected ahead of late call-up Scott Taylor of Hull FC. Yet the young Saints prop has already been vocal about his desire to continue his impressive 2018 club form and force his way into the national side for the autumn series against the Kiwis in Leeds, Hull and Liverpool.

Holbrook has included all five in his 19-man squad for this one and has stated that all are fit to play despite their Atlantic-hopping exploits. There seems no reason to believe that Holbrook will make too many changes then, and indeed the 19 men on duty here are the same 19 who travelled to Headingley and came away with a 23-22 win a fortnight ago. That will mean Makinson and Percival taking their usual places in the three-quarters with Ben Barba at fullback, Ryan Morgan at centre and Regan Grace on the left wing.

Of all those who played for England Lomax was the one most at risk of missing out this week after picking up a couple of knocks. Matty Smith is again included in case Lomax does not make it and Theo Fages is required to come off the bench and start alongside Danny Richardson in the halves. Yet that is very much a backup plan with Lomax likely to keep his place at stand off.

In the forwards Kyle Amor is still not ready, and though there was encouraging news about Alex Walmsley returning to training recently the England man is ruled out for a couple more months. That means Jack Ashworth is included again and he will compete with Matty Lees for a place in the pack alongside Thompson, Luke Douglas and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Zeb Taia and Dominique Peyroux form Saints second row and Jon Wilkin locks the scrum, ably supported by Morgan Knowles. Roby should start at hooker but we may see more of Fages or Smith in that role given the skipper's recent exersions.

Wakefield come in off the back of a 44-22 success over bottom club and all around basket case Widnes Vikings. Chris Chester's men sit sixth at present which is closer to a playoff spot than the defending champion Rhinos find themselves before Round 19 gets under way on Thursday (June 28). Yet Wakefield have arguably under-performed this year so far, not finding the consistency which chatacterised their 2017 campaign in which they finished fifth within a single point of a semi-final berth. A win here would be a statement that Wakefield are in the hunt, and is not beyond the realms given Saints have players backing up from test football and the fact that the Yorkshire side beat Saints east of the Pennines back in March. Only Wakefield and the Rhinos have come out on the right side of the scoreline against Saints so far in 2018.

Chester is still without fullback Scott Grix as well as forwards Justin Horo and Craig Huby, while veteran Danny Kirmond also went down in last week's win over Widnes. Yet there is still plenty of threat in there with Tom Johnstone, Reece Lyne, Bill Tupou and Jacob Miller in the backs and Pauli Pauli, David Fifita, Tyler Randell, Tinirau Arona and Matty Ashurst up front. They won't be short of motivation either, with a win vital in keeping them in touch with the other top four challengers.

Despite the air miles and Wakefield's need I still expect Saints to come out on top. That defeat at Wakefield will be on their minds even if neither Holbrook or the players would say so publicly. But more than that another win just turns the screw a little bit tighter on those who retain an interest in winning the League Leaders Shield as the Super 8s creep into view for what we are led to believe will be the final time. It could be close and nervy at times but I'm taking Saints to win by a couple of scores.

Squads;

St Helens;

1. Jonny Lomax 2. Tommy Makinson 3. Ryan Morgan 4. Mark Percival 6. Theo Fages 7. Matty Smith 9. James Roby 11. Zeb Taia 12. Jon Wilkin 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook 14. Luke Douglas 15. Morgan Knowles 16. Luke Thompson 17. Dominique Peyroux 18. Danny Richardson 19. Regan Grace 20. Matty Lees 21. Jack Ashworth 23. Ben Barba

Wakefield Trinity;

2. Tom Johnstone 3. Bill Tupou 4. Reece Lyne 5. Ben Jones-Bishop 6. Jacob Miller 7. Liam Finn 8. David Fifita 9. Kyle Wood 10. Anthony England 11. Matty Ashurst 13. Tyler Randell 15. Pauli Pauli 16. Tinirau Arona 19. James Bachelor 20. Keegan Hirst 21. Max Jowitt 23. Chris Annakin 24. Mason Caton-Brown 25. Ryan Hampshire

Referee: James Child