Squad watch: Challenge Cup team news, including broadcast details and kick-off times

Welcome to Squad watch here on Love Rugby League, bringing you the latest Challenge Cup squad news ahead of the quarter-finals.

Squad watch is a weekly feature at Love Rugby League in 2024, which includes all the 21-man squads from Super League and when they are announced for every round of fixtures.

But this week we turn our attention to the Challenge Cup, with eight Super League clubs involved in the quarter-finals. Here’s the latest team news in Squad Watch..

Hull Kingston Rovers v Leigh Leopards (Saturday, 5pm, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer)

Hull KR coach Willie Peters has made two changes to his 21-man squad this week, with half-back Ben Reynolds (cup tied) and Sam Luckley (suspension) being replaced by Reiss Butterworth and Leo Tennison.

Leigh Leopards hooker Brad Dwyer will be able to play in the Challenge Cup quarter-final after making his loan move from Warrington permanent, signing a two-year contract with the Leopards.

Speaking in his press conference earlier this week, Leigh coach Adrian Lam revealed that key prop Tom Amone is set to return from a foot injury in what is a huge boost for the current Challenge Cup holders. He also said that Robbie Mulhern has a 50-50 chance of playing due to his calf strain which saw him miss last week’s defeat to Wigan.

Hull KR: Hiku, Evalds, Opacic, Hall, Lewis, Sue, Litten, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella, Parcell, Whitbread, Storton, Aydin, Tanginoa, Hall, Senior, Butterworth, May, Tennison, Burgess.

Leigh: O’Brien, Hardaker, Leutele, Charnley, Moylan, Lam, Amone, Mulhern, O’Donnell, Hughes, Norman, Davis, Halton, Trout, Nakubuwai, Chamberlain, McNamara, Hanley, Nisbet, Baxter, Dwyer.

RELATED: Brad Dwyer makes Leigh Leopards move permanent as he departs Warrington Wolves

Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants (Saturday, 6pm)

Catalans Dragons are boosted by the returns of Jayden Nikorima, Julian Bousquet, Micky McIlorum, Jordan Dezaria and Bayley Sironen. However, they will be without half-back Jordan Abdull and winger Tom Johnstone after the duo picked up injuries in their win over St Helens last weekend.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield Giants will be without Olly Wilson after the young prop failed a HIA in their win over Hull FC last week, being replaced by Joe Greenwood, who returns from illness. Winger Sam Halsall could also return for Ian Watson’s side.

Catalans: Mourgue, Davies, Romano, Laguerre, Yaha, Nikorima, Fages, McMeeken, McIlorum, Bousquet, Sims, Seguier, Garcia, Da Costa, Sironen, Navarrete, Rouge, Satae, Ikuvalu, Dezaria, Maria.

Huddersfield: Connor, Swift, Marsters, Naiqama, Bibby, Lolohea, Clune, Milner, Greenwood, Murchie, Yates, Golding, English, Rushton, Ikahihifo, Wallis, Cudjoe, Livett, Russell, Halsall, Salabio.

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Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors (Sunday, 3pm)

There’s heavy change for Castleford, enforced due to injuries, with boss Craig Lingard only able to name a 19-man squad. Josh Simm (dislocated shoulder), Sam Hall (unknown), Liam Watts (failed HIA), Paul McShane (hamstring) & George Lawler (unknown) all drop out. The trio of Rowan Milnes, Charbel Tasipale & George Hill return.

It’s more or less the same for visitors Wigan, whose only change comes with Tyler Dupree returning to the 21 following suspension. The prop replaces youngster Jack Farrimond in Matt Peet’s squad.

Castleford: Broadbent, Wood, Senior, Richardson, Miller, El-Zakhem, Mellor, Westerman, Horne, Milnes, Hodson, Namo, Tasipale, Robb, Martin, Kibula, Hill, Johnson, Hindmarsh-Takyi

Wigan: Field, Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith, O’Neill, Isa, Farrell, Ellis, Mago, Thompson, Leeming, Dupree, Hill, Nsemba, Hampshire, Chan, Eckersley, Douglas

RELATED: Castleford Tigers coach reveals extent of squad decimation ahead of Challenge Cup quarter-final tie

St Helens v Warrington Wolves (Sunday, 4:30pm, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer)

Paul Wellens makes one enforced change to his Saints squad as the injured Jake Wingfield (shoulder) drops out. Waqa Blake returns to the fold having been left out for the trip to Catalans last weekend, with youngster Jake Burns & Noah Stephens named oncemore – both await their senior debut.

There’s one change too for Sam Burgess’ Warrington, who see Joe Philbin return having sat out of last week’s win at Leeds Rhinos in line with HIA protocols. Papua New Guinea ace Rodrick Tai is the man to drop out, with Zane Musgrove still absent with an ankle issue and Paul Vaughan serving the second – and final – match of his two-game suspension.

St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Blake, Bennison, Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Clark, Mata’utia, Batchelor, Knowles, Mbye, Bell, Sironen, Whitley, Delaney, Davies, Hurrell, Burns, Ritson, Stephens

Warrington: Ashton, Bullock, Crowther, Currie, Drinkwater, Dufty, Fitzgibbon, Harrison, Hayes, Holroyd, King, Nicholson, Philbin, Powell, Ratchford, Thewlis, Walker, Whitehead, Williams, Wood, Wrench

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