York Knights and Bradford Bulls have confirmed their teams for Thursday night’s final round fixture that could see the wooden spoon decided.
The Knights can avoid the bottom spot with a win over their fellow promoted side, whilst Bradford, who are currently bottom, not only need to win, but also need some other results to go in their favour.
York head into their final game of what has been an incredible first season in Super League, and to avoid bottom spot on half of the central funding allowance than 12 other teams is a brilliant achievement.
Next year, they are going big, with the confirmed signings of Cameron McCinnes and Max Jowitt showing some real intent from Mark Applegarth’s side.
Bradford have shown that, with a healthy squad, they can compete with the best in the competition, and will be hoping that next year will be much more of an easy ride on the injury front.
With the squads now confirmed from both camps, here is all the latest team news ahead of the game that will kick off the final round of the regular season.
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York Knights v Bradford Bulls Team News
The Knights remain unchanged after last week’s trip to Catalans Dragons. York travelled to Perpignan and came away with the two points thanks to a late try from veteran prop Paul Vaughan.
Esan Marsters has been named in Bradford’s squad for the first time since April. The centre suffered an Achilles injury in defeat to Wakefield Trinity, but has a slim chance of returning in the final round of action.
Boss Kurt Haggerty revealed that the chance of the Cook Islander featuring was slim, but if both the player and medical staff agreed he was okay to play, he would be in the side. Marsters replaces Loghan Lewis in what is a 20-man squad.
York Knights 21-man squad:Â Toa Mata’afa, Ben Jones-Bishop, Sam Wood, Scott Galeano, Ata Hingano, Liam Harris, Jack Martin, Paul McShane, Paul Vaughan, Jesse Dee, Jordan Thompson, Denive Balmforth, Xavier Va’a, Justin Sangare, Oli Field, Jon Bennison, Nikau Williams, Matty Foster, Cody Hunter, David Nofoaluma, Tommy Doyle
Bradford Bulls 20-man squad: Caleb Aekins, Jayden Okunbor, Esan Marsters, Waqa Blake, Ryan Sutton, Andy Ackers, Loghan Lewis, Dan Russell, Joe Mellor, Ebon Scurr, Will Gardiner, Luke Hooley, Connor Wynne, Eliot Peposhi, Alfie Leake, Jamie Gill, Leon Ruan, Chris Atkin, Phoenix Steinwede, Harvey Ward, Riley Dean
