SL Preview: Warrington v St Helens
Warrington have made two changes their side for the televised home fixture against St Helens on Friday night.
Tony Smith’s side will want to bounce back from their shock 26-12 defeat to Hull KR whilst St Helens will also want a response following their 20-12 defeat to Leeds.
Chris Bridge is back in the Wolves squad and could make his first appearance of the season having made a comeback whilst on dual registration at Swinton. Smith also welcomes back Joel Monaghan to the squad having missed the last round defeat with Rhys Williams and Trent Waterhouse losing their places.
Saints have Lance Hohaia available for first team action following his injury, but he has been replaced by Gary Wheeler in the treatment room following his ruptured hamstring tendon.
Warrington 19-man squad: Atkins, Bridge, Carvell, Cooper, Currie, Evans, Grix, Higham, Hill, Hodgson, Laithwaite, McCarthy, J Monaghan, M Monaghan, Myler, Ratchford, Riley, Westwood, Wood
St Helens 19-man squad: Gardner, Turner, Soliola, Meli, Hohaia, Lomax, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Puletua, Wilkin, Manu, Laffranchi, Flanagan, Clough, Jones, Greenwood, Walmsley, Walker, Percival
Prediction: With Saints misfiring of late and Warrington wanting to bounce back after last week’s defeat I’m going for a Warrington win
Stats:
Brett Hodgson has scored points in his last ten games against St Helens (6 for Warrington and 4 for Huddersfield). His streak began in the Giants’ 15-2 away play-off defeat by the Saints on 19 September, 2009.
Last 10 meetings:
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)
Warrington 35, St Helens 28 (SLR19, 24/6/11)
St Helens 18, Warrington 25 (SLR3, 25/2/11)
St Helens 28, Warrington 12 (SLQPO, 10/9/10)
Warrington 24, St Helens 26 (SLR24, 31/7/10)
St Helens 28, Warrington 18 (SLR7, 19/3/10)
Warrington 26, St Helens 40 (SLR20, 11/7/09)
Super League summary:
Warrington won 5 (includes win in 2012 play-offs)
St Helens won 37 (includes wins in 2010 and 2012 play-offs)
2 draws
Warrington highest score: 56-22 (H, 2001) (also widest margin)
St Helens highest score: 72-2 (H, 2002) (also widest margin)