SL Preview: Warrington Wolves v Hull FC

Correspondent

Fresh from Challenge Cup victories, Warrington Wolves and Hull FC face off at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday night as both clubs turn their attention back to Super League.

Warrington head into the game in search of a seventh straight win and beat Hull 24-10 in the reverse fixture at the KC Stadium in March.

Visitors Hull have had an indifferent campaign so far and sit midtable with 14 points from 14 games. On a run of just one defeat in their last eight games, the Black and Whites could move up to 5th with a win.

Adrian Morley is back in contention for the Wolves after recovering from a bicep injury sustained against Catalan in February. Brett Hodgson limped out of the Wolves’ 52-6 win over Salford last weekend and will miss the visit of Hull with a knee injury but Lee Briers and Rhys Evans could both return to action on Friday evening. 

Youngster Jamie Shaul is drafted back into Hull coach Peter Gentle’s squad, replacing Liam Watts after the prop picked up a leg injury in the win at Wakefield. Winger Jason Crookes is again named in Gentle’s 19-man squad while front-rower Josh Bowden is pushing for a place in the pack.

Warrington Wolves 19-man squad: Atkins, Briers, Carvell, Cooper, Currie, Grix, Higham, Hill, Monaghan, Monaghan, Morley, Myler, Ratchford, Riley, Riley, Waterhouse, Westwood, Williams, Wood.

Hull FC 19-man squad: Bowden, Briscoe, Crookes, Crooks, Ellis, Green, Holdsworth, Heremaia, Horne, Houghton, Johnson, Lineham, Lynch, McDonnell, O’Meley, Pitts, Shaul, Whiting, Yeaman.

Prediction: With both teams in good form, expect a close encounter but the Wolves should prevail – home win.

Super League summary:

Warrington won 21 (includes win in 2012 play-offs)

Hull FC won 14 (includes win in 2005 play-offs)

1 draw

Warrington highest score: 46-24 (H, 2006) (Widest margin: 41-10, H, 2000)

Hull FC highest score: 46-14 (H, 2007) (Widest margin: 40-6, A, 2005 EPO)