Squad watch: Super League Round 7 squad news, TV coverage & predictions

Josh McAllister 29 Mar 2023 2:08 PM

Jordan Abdull Hull KR Super League SWpix — Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Super League Round Seven, including squad news, television coverage and our predictions.

The action kicks off with the Battle of the Borough at the Leigh Sports Village as Matt Peet’s Wigan make the short trip on Thursday, live on Sky Sports.

It’s a rivalry that dates back decades, with the derby returning to the screens following Leigh’s promotion to the top flight for 2023.

The Sky Sports cameras will then make the trip up north to Craven Park as Hull KR host Leeds on Friday.

Then Channel 4 will broadcast the tie between Warrington and Hull FC on Saturday afternoon live from the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Super League Round 7 squads:

Leigh v Wigan (Thursday, 8pm, live on Sky Sports)

Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix

Nathan Wilde returns to Leigh’s squad in replacement of Joe Shorrocks, who has returned to his parent club Wigan.

Shorrocks, 23, goes straight into Peet’s 21-man squad for the clash. He replaces youngster Junior Nsemba.

Leigh: Hardaker, Briscoe, Chamberlain, Leutele, Charnley, Mellor, Lam, Amone, Ipapae, Mulhern, Hughes, Asiata, Nakubuwai, Reynolds, Holmes, O’Brien, Davis, Nisbit, O’Donnell, Wilde, Seumanufagai.

Wigan: Field, French, King, Wardle, Marshall, Cust, Smith, Singleton, Powell, Byrne, Isa, Farrell, Smithies, Cooper, Ellis, Havard, Pearce-Paul, Shorrocks, Mago, O’Neill, Miski.

Prediction: This will be the game of the weekend, live on the Sky Sports cameras. Leigh by 12.

Hull KR v Leeds (Friday, 8pm, live on Sky Sports)

Salford v Hull KR. News Images.

Jordan Abdull, Frankie Halton and Dean Hadley all return to Hull KR’s 21-man squad after completing their respective head injury protocols.

Tom Opacic misses out due to a minor groin injury, while skipper Shaun Kenny-Dowall continues to be sidelined.

Leeds have been handed a major boost ahead of their trip to Hull KR this Friday with England international Mikolaj Oledzki named for the first time in 2023.

Back-rower James Bentley also returns from his one-match suspension.

Hull KR: Coote, Ryan, Hall, Abdull, Sue, Parcell, King, Halton, Linnett, Minchella, Litten, Kennedy, Batchelor, Storton, Lewis, Milnes, Hadley, Senior, Wood, Johnson, Luckley.

Leeds: Myler, Fusitu’a, Newman, Macdonald, Austin, Sezer, Oledzki, Tetevano, Bentley, Martin, Smith, O’Connor, Lisone, Olpherts, Sangare, Holroyd, McDonnell, Walters, Roberts, Johnson.

Prediction: Both sides welcome back a handful of big names, and we’ll say the hosts by eight.

St Helens v Wakefield (Friday, 8pm)

Picture by Paul Currie/SWpix.com

Youngster George Delaney could be given his first appearance of the year for St Helens after Paul Wellens revealed the prop forward has every chance to make his final 17. He has made five appearances with Swinton in 2023 on dual-registration.

Sione Mata’utia misses out after failing his head injury assessment in the opening minute against Huddersfield.

Full-back Will Dagger has been included in Wakefield’s squad after making the move from Hull KR in a swap deal for Corey Hall.

The loan signing of Innes Senior completes Mark Applegarth’s 21-man squad. The Ireland international joins on an initial two-week loan deal from Huddersfield.

St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Hopoate, Percival, Bennison, Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Knowles, Lussick, LMS, Sironen, Paasi, Bell, Royle, Hurrell, Ritson, Delaney, Buckley.

Wakefield: Taufua, Lyne, Lino, Battye, Whitbread, Ashurst, Pitts, Crowther, Kay, Kershaw, Proctor, Smith, Langi, Butler, Bowes, Eseh, Butterworth, Pratt, Forber, Dagger, Senior.

Prediction: I don’t see Wakefield picking up their first win of the season here. Saints by 22.