St Helens set for final ClubCall

Super League’s controversial ClubCall system will be used for the last time tonight when St Helens pick their play-off semi-final opponents.

The smart money has their choice as the winner of the play-off between Huddersfield and Catalan, following Warrington’s victory at Castleford on Thursday evening, but chairman Eamonn McManus will reveal all live on Sky Sports at full-time of tonight’s game.

Before last weekend’s games, it was being dubbed as the “toughest ever ClubCall”, until the unexpected exit of Super League’s most successful play-off team, Leeds, at the hands of the Dragons on Saturday.

Instead, Saints are likely to set up arch rivals Wigan with a tricky date against Warrington, which will be a repeat of last season’s Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Only once has the team with the ClubCall pick gone on to win the Grand Final – Leeds, who chose Catalan, back in 2009.

On two occasions, Leeds have gone on to win the Grand Final having themselves been “ClubCalled” by the highest ranked team; against Warrington in 2011, and Wigan in 2012.

Last season, Warrington chose and beat Huddersfield before losing to Wigan in the Grand Final.

Coincidentally, on their only previous occasion of having the ClubCall pick, St Helens also chose and beat Huddersfield before losing to Wigan in the Grand Final.