Play-off Semi-Final Preview: Leeds v St Helens

Leeds will have to face St Helens on Friday evening without the services of highly rated back rower Steve Ward, who has a knee injury.

Jimmy Keinhorst, Josh Walters and Ash Handley are named in Brian McDermott’s squad.

St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham makes one change to his squad from the team which lost to Warrington last week, and it could be a crucial one.

Dream Team prop Alex Walmsely returns to the squad to significantly boost Cunningham’s front row options.

St Helens (19-man squad): Makinson, Turner, Jones, Swift, Walsh, Masoe, Roby, Amor, Vea, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Walmsley, Flanagan, Percival, Richards, Greenwood, Dawson, Savelio, Quinlan.

Leeds (19-man squad): Hardaker, Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Peacock, Ablett, Sinfield, Delaney, Cuthbertson, Singleton, Keinhorst, Walters, Handley,Lilley, Garbutt.

Stats:

Leeds’ Kevin Sinfield has scored points in 23 consecutive games against St Helens, a streak which started in the 2008 Super League Grand Final. He last failed to score in the 2008 Qualifying semi-final at Knowsley Road, where he missed his one goal attempt in a 38-10 defeat.

Zak Hardaker needs two tries to reach a career century of touchdowns. Hardaker has scored 65 tries for Leeds since 2011, to go with representative scores for England (3, 2012-2013) and England Knights (2, 2012). He also scored 28 tries for previous club Featherstone (2010-2011).

Kallum Watkins needs one try to reach a career century of touchdowns. Watkins has scored 91 tries for Leeds since 2008, to go with 8 scores for England since 2012.

Jordan Turner needs one try to reach a career century of touchdowns. His total of 99 has been scored as follows: 24 for Salford (2006-2009), 34 for Hull FC (2010-2012), 39 for St Helens (2013-2015) and 2 for England Knights (2012).

Super League Summary:

Leeds won 27 (includes wins in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 Grand Finals; 1998, 2005 and 2013 play-offs)
St Helens won 31 (includes wins in 1999, 2001, 2007 and 2008 play-offs)
Leeds highest score: 74-16 (H, 2001) (Widest margin: 70-0, H, 2004)
St Helens highest score: 62-18 (H, 1999) (Widest margin: 56-10, H, 2004)

Last 10 meetings:

Leeds 18, St Helens 32 (SLS8-R4, 4/9/15)
Leeds 24, St Helens 14 (CCSF, 31/7/15) (at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington)
Leeds 46, St Helens 18 (SLR20, 3/7/15)
St Helens 16, Leeds 41 (SLR11, 17/4/15)
Leeds 12, St Helens 13 (SLR25, 29/8/14)
Leeds 32, St Helens 12 (CCR5, 26/4/14)
St Helens 14, Leeds 10 (SLR7, 28/3/14)
Leeds 11, St Helens 10 (SLPSF, 20/9/13)
Leeds 22, St Helens 30 (SLR15, 20/5/13)
St Helens 12, Leeds 20 (SLR5, 1/3/13)