SL Preview: St Helens v Warrington
St Helens welcome Warrington to Langtree Park on Thursday night, and will be hoping to end the Wolves’ recent run of success at their rivals’ ground.
Mark Percival is missing for Saints, as he is out for six weeks with a knee injury. Luke Walsh is also still absent, though he is expected to back in action next month.
Kyle Amor and James Roby do return for Saints, and will add some power and quality to the front row.
Warrington coach Tony Smith has named the same squad as for last week’s win over Leeds.
Prediction: A tough game to call, but Saints are in good form and will be keen to end Warrington’s run at Langtree. Saints by 10 points.
St Helens (19-man squad): Makinson, Turner, Jones, Swift, Burns, Masoe, Roby, Amor, Vea, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Walmsley, Hohaia, Thompson, Richards, Wellens, Greenwood, Dawson, Savelio.
Warrington Wolves (19-man squad): Asotasi, Atkins, Bridge, Clark, Currie, Evans, Harrison, Higham, Hill, King, Laithwaite, O’Brien, Penny, Philbin, Ratchford, Russell, Sims, Westwood, Wheeler.
Stats:
James Roby needs one appearance to reach 350 for his career. Roby has played 316 games for St Helens since 2004, to go with representative appearances for Great Britain (7 Tests, 2006-2007) and England (26 games, 2008-2013).
Tom Makinson is one appearance away from 100 (99 for St Helens, 2011-2015)
(If Makinson features in Saints’ game against Warrington at Langtree Park on Thursday, he will become the 400th player to reach a total of 100 Super League appearances. If he does not feature, Tim Smith will have the chance to become the 400th player to reach a century in Wakefield’s fixture against Huddersfield at Belle Vue on Sunday)
St Helens have won their last eight Super League matches. Their last league defeat was 17-16 at Huddersfield on 12 September, 2014.
Warrington have won their last five away meetings with St Helens, including all four fixtures between the sides at Langtree Park. Saints’ last home win against the Wolves was a 28-12 play-off victory at Knowsley Road on 10 September, 2010.
Warrington’s Joel Monaghan has scored tries in the Wolves’ last four meetings with St Helens (1-2-2-2).
Super League Summary:
St Helens won 39 (includes wins in 2010 and 2012 play-offs)
Warrington won nine (includes win in 2012 play-offs)
Two draws
St Helens highest score: 72-2 (H, 2002) (also widest margin)
Warrington highest score: 56-22 (H, 2001) (also widest margin)
Last 10 Meetings:
St Helens 12, Warrington 39 (SLR26, 4/9/14)
St Helens 24, Warrington 41 (SLR13, 18/5/14) (at Etihad Stadium, Manchester)
Warrington 8, St Helens 38 (SLR1, 13/2/14)
St Helens 16, Warrington 29 (SLR26, 30/8/13)
St Helens 22, Warrington 48 (SLR16, 25/5/13) (at Etihad Stadium, Manchester)
Warrington 10, St Helens 22 (SLR6, 8/3/13)
St Helens 18, Warrington 36 (SLQSF, 29/9/12)
Warrington 6, St Helens 28 (SLQPO, 15/9/12)
St Helens 12, Warrington 22 (SLR23, 6/8/12)
Warrington 16, St Helens 28 (SLR9, 30/3/12)