St Helens trio to face off in Championship derby as loan deals confirmed

St Helens youngster Alfie Tate will line up on loan for Salford RLFC against team-mates Luca Walsh and Sam Oakes, who are with Swinton Lions this weekend, in a Championship derby clash.

Forward Tate, able to play at prop or loose, was promoted into Saints’ first-team environment ahead of the 2026 campaign having been with the club since scholarship level.

He awaits his senior bow for the Super League heavyweights, but made his professional debut off the bench on loan for Salford last month in a big win over Championship strugglers North Wales Crusaders.

Now, the 19-year-old links back up with the Reds on another initial week-long loan deal, and will feature on Saturday afternoon in their derby clash against Swinton.

Notably, that Championship game takes place at The Brick Community Stadium, the home of Saints’ fierce rivals Wigan. As part of a double-header, the Warriors host Toulouse Olympique in a Super League encounter after the Salford-Swinton clash.

St Helens trio to face off in Championship derby as loan deals confirmed

All being well, Saturday afternoon’s game will see Tate up against his Saints team-mates Walsh and Oakes, who have joined Swinton on week-long deals.

Half-back Walsh, also 19, was picked up by Saints from a community club in France in early 2025, and has progressed into their first-team environment.

Awaiting his debut for Saints, the young playmaker has played a game apiece for Swinton and Whitehaven in the Championship already this term as a loanee.

Oakes meanwhile will make his professional rugby league debut as he takes to the field for the Lions on Saturday afternoon.

The prop, a Rylands Sharks junior, is another who has been with Saints since scholarship: and has so far made it to reserves level.

As well as Tate, Walsh and Oakes will be up against Hull KR duo Dec Murphy and Louix Gorman this weekend, with the pair having joined the Reds on loan after playing for them in their previous incarnation while in Super League last season.

Salford’s squad for their derby day clash is also bolstered by the loan addition of Jack Houghton from fellow Championship outfit Widnes Vikings.

Front-rower Houghton – who will turn 30 in January – is a stalwart of the lower leagues, with 157 career appearances and 24 tries to his name across all competitions.

The experienced forward has donned a shirt for North Wales Crusaders, Rochdale Hornets and Swinton as well as current club Widnes, with his 19 games for the Lions – who he will face this weekend with Salford – coming back in 2024.