CC Preview: Huddersfield v St Helens

St Helens have included Sean Long and Kieron Cunningham in their squad to face Huddersfield Giants in the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi final.

The semi final takes place at Warrington Wolves’ Haliwell Jones Stadium this afternoon (Sunday).

The winners will face Warrington in the final at Wembley on August 29th after the Wolves’ 39-26 win over Wigan Warriors.

The Saints, looking to win their fourth straight Challenge Cup, could have Long and Cunningham in their starting seventeen despite spells on the sidelines due to injury.

Coach Mick Potter said that Long was “steadily improving” and that a decision on whether he plays will left “right until he last minute”.

Huddersfield have Paul Whatuira returning from injury; the only player unavailable to coach Nathan Brown is Danny Sculthorpe who is cup tied.

The Giants last reached the final in 2006 when they were beaten 42-12 by Saints at Twickenham.

The two sides also met at the semi-final stage in 2004 when St Helens emerged victorious; that game was also staged at the Haliwell-Jones Stadium.

Coincidentally in that year the other semi final was between Warrington and Wigan at Widnes, although on that occasion Wigan were the victors.   

Huddersfield v St Helens (Haliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington)

Squads:

Huddersfield: B. Hodgson, Brown, Whaturia, D. Hodgson, Fulton, Robinson, Crabtree, Faiumu, Griffin, Lolesi, Wild, Finnigan, Jackson, Mason, Kirmond, Lawrence, Moore, Cudjoe, Lunt

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Meli, Pryce, Long, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Flannery, Hargreaves, Puletua, Clough, Eastmond, Dean, Dixon, Ashurst, Emmitt