Magic Weekend Preview: St Helens v Warrington Wolves

Warrington Wolves face a buoyant St Helens over Magic Weekend as they look to avenge a home defeat Nathan Brown’s Saints inflicted upon them in March.

St Helens ran out 22-10 winners at the Halliwell Jones Stadium but have since struggled for form, with injuries severely depleting Brown’s squad. 

Before Monday night’s shock win at Leeds, Saints had been on a five-game losing run but but have renewed optimism ahead of Saturday’s game at the Etihad Stadium. 

Tony Smith’s Wolves held on to third place in Super League thanks to that St Helens win but were beaten at home by Hull FC last weekend. 

Saints captain Paul Wellens took a knock against Leeds and isn’t risked by Nathan Brown. Wellens is replaced in the squad by Paul Clough while  Carl Forster comes in to the squad in place of Joe Greenwood. Lance Hohai returns to the squad after injury but James Roby still isn’t 100% fit so isn’t risked.

Warrington head coach Smith has a fully-fit squad to choose from after Adrian Morley returned to action with Swinton under dual-registration during the week. Morley returns to the Wolves squad after recovering from a bicep tear sustained against Catalan earlier in the season.

St Helens 19-man squad: Gardner, Turner, Soliola, Hohaia, Perry, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Peletua, Wilkin, Manu, Laffranchi, Clough, Jones, Makinson, Forster, Ashe, Walmsley, Percival, Thompson, Howarth. 

Warrington Wolves 10-man squad: Atkins, Briers, Carvell, Cooper, Currie, Grix, Higham, Hill, Monaghan. M, Monaghan. J, Morley, Myler, O’Brien, Ratchford, Riley, Waterhouse, Westwood, Williams, Wood.

Prediction: Wolves to get revenge on the home defeat to Saints – Wolves win. 

Magic Weekend summary:

St Helens: Won 3, Lost 2, Drawn 1

Warrington: Won 4, Lost 2

(No previous Magic Weekend meeting)

Super League summary:

St Helens won 38 (includes wins in 2010 and 2012 play-offs)

Warrington won 5 (includes win in 2012 play-offs)

2 draws

St Helens highest score: 72-2 (H, 2002) (also widest margin)

Warrington highest score: 56-22 (H, 2001) (also widest margin)