St Helens v Castleford Tigers - Preview

Saints will round off this year’s Magic Weekend when they face Castleford Tigers at Anfield on Sunday (May 26, kick-off 6.00pm).

The decision to move the event to Liverpool after four years in Newcastle has been met with a lot of criticism from fans. Complaints range from the lack of posh housing around the stadium, to the distance from the city centre to the colour of the seats. Strangely, we live in a world in which playing rugby league at the home of a European football giant was a triumph last week but is an absolute disaster this week. Well, you can’t guarantee the weather in L4.

Putting all of this to one side Saints will be looking for a 15th win from 16 league outings in 2019 to consolidate and maybe even stretch their six-point lead at the top of the Super League table depending on other results. Coach Justin Holbrook has made just one change to his 19-man squad from last week’s heart-stopping 32-30 win over Salford Red Devils. Skipper and apparent Liverpool fan James Roby returns to the fold after a slight injury concern, with Joe Batchelor the unfortunate man to miss out.

The 19 has a familiar look then, but there may still be changes to the starting line-up. Kevin Naiqama was a late withdrawal last week but is named. He should slot into his usual right centre berth but there are still decisions to make about the make-up of the rest of the three-quarter line. Tommy Makinson could be restored to his regular right wing role which would likely see Adam Swift miss out. That would be harsh on Swift, but highlights the predicament that he finds himself in that has led to him being heavily linked with Hull FC this week. It seems that Swift’s only chance of a reprieve assuming Naiqama does play is if Makinson is switched to left centre at the expense of Matty Costello. Saints have looked vulnerable defensively on that left edge over the last few weeks since Mark Percival’s injury and Holbrook may elect to try and shore things up. Regan Grace and Lachlan Coote can be more certain of their places if fit. Danny Richardson’s exile continues so expect to see Theo Fages develop his burgeoning partnership with Jonny Lomax in the halves.

Roby’s return bolsters a pack that was carried a little by Alex Walmsley last time out. Luke Thompson is still out injured so Matty Lees is likely to start alongside Walmsley and Roby in Saints’ front row. Aaron Smith is a more than capable deputy for Roby while James Bentley has also operated at hooker at times this season. His confidence will be high after grabbing the winning try against Ian Watson’s side, albeit in fairly controversial fashion. Backing up the props will be Jack Ashworth and Kyle Amor with Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook not quite ready for a return from his injury problems. Zeb Taia is mulling over the offer of a new one-year deal and is still Saints first choice at second row along with Dominique Peyroux. Morgan Knowles completes the back row though he is again likely to alternate with Joseph Paulo.

The Tigers arrive on Merseyside without Jesse Sene-Lefao. The strong-running second rower has been granted compassionate leave and has returned home to Australia for the moment. He will be missed on that left edge for Castleford who will also be without back rower Nathan Massey. Brad Jinks misses the cut for the 19 this week as Will Maher, Chris Clarkson and Daniel Smith all return.

The loss of Sene-Lefao in particular is a blow for Tigers coach Daryl Powell who had just started to get a few of his more established stars back on deck. Former Saint Michael Shenton is still out but in recent weeks Greg Minikin, Grant Millington and Paul McShane have all returned to action. All should feature here and with try machine Greg Eden in the line-up along with fullback Peter Mata’utia the Tigers do have the weapons to trouble a Saints side that is still winning but is performing a notch or two below its best of late. Along with Millington and McShane and the excellent Liam Watts England international Mike McMeeken will be key to helping the Tigers match Saints in the forward battle.

If there is a glaring weakness in the Castleford side at present it is perhaps in the halves. They have been forced to rely on the talented but inexperienced duo of Cory Aston and Jake Trueman in the continued absence of Luke Gale and Jamie Ellis. Jordan Rankin was fit enough for a place on the bench in last week’s 30-8 win at Leeds Rhinos and may see his minutes extended here. He’ll either do so in the halves or he can operate at fullback and allow Mata’utia to pull a few strings in midfield.

Saints haven’t lost to Castleford since....yes.....you guessed it.....that thrilling 2017 Super League semi-final when Gale’s golden point drop-goal took the Tigers through to a Grand Final showdown with Leeds. That run has seen Saints reel off five wins on the spin against Powell’s side including a 42-12 success earlier this season which is memorable not only for some sizzling Saints skills but also for Powell’s impromptu walk across the Mend-A-Hose Jungle turf, chunnering at his players as he went and earning himself a suspended £5,000 into the bargain.

The pair have met at Anfield before. Saints took their home fixture with Castleford on the road to Liverpool in 1997 and recorded a 42-16 win. I don’t expect it to be as comfortable as all that this time around but Saints should still have enough to take the spoils, maybe by 8-12 points.

Squads;

St Helens;

Jonny Lomax 2. Tommy Makinson 3. Kevin Naiqama 5. Regan Grace 6. Theo Fages 8. Alex Walmsley 9. James Roby 11. Zeb Taia 12. Joseph Paulo 15. Morgan Knowles 16. Kyle Amor 17. Dominique Peyroux 18. Adam Swift 19. Matty Lees 20. Jack Ashworth 21. Aaron Smith 22. James Bentley 23. Lachlan Coote 24. Matty Costello

Castleford Tigers;

Cory Aston, Cheyse Blair, James Clare, Mitch Clark, Chris Clarkson, Matt Cook, Greg Eden, Touyo Egodo, Will Maher, Peter Mata’utia, Mike McMeeken, Paul McShane, Grant Millington, Adam Milner, Greg Minikin, Jordan Rankin, Daniel Smith, Jake Trueman, Liam Watts

Referee: Robert Hicks