Castleford Tigers vs St Helens: Team news, match preview and score prediction

Castleford have won their last three league games as they climb the table after a tough start, but their good run faces the toughest possible test against the Champions St Helens.

The Saints underlined their dominance over Easter with wins over two of their top four rivals only conceding 16 points over four days against Wigan and Huddersfield but without a number of key players going into this game, this will be a test of their depth.

So, could it be there for the Tigers to make it four wins on the spin?

Team News

The Tigers have lost Niall Evalds to injury following the victory against Leeds. Greg Eden will return to the team however lessening this loss. Meanwhile, George Lawler is back from suspension whilst Joe Westerman has avoided a ban for dangerous contact.

Unlike Castleford’s Joe Westerman, Curtis Sironen was hit with a ban which sees him, alongside Konrad Hurrell, miss this game through suspension. Kristian Woolf is also without Lewis Dodd, Will Hopoate, Regan Grace, Sione Mata’utia and Morgan Knowles through injury and has chosen to rest Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, James Roby and plenty of others as they recover from two huge wins in four days over Easter.

Match Preview – Key Battles:

Jake Trueman vs Jack Welsby: Jake Trueman conjured up a moment of brilliance to defeat Leeds on Easter Monday breaking the line and offloading the match winner Liam Watts. A great attacker, he’ll be against one of the league’s in form players in Jack Welsby who has stood up in the last two games but may have to move into the halves for this one. A running threat as well as one with the ball in hand, he’s the man Cas will look to stop.

Paul McShane vs Joey Lussick: Two great number nines battle. This will be a test of Joey Lussick the heir apparent to James Roby as St Helens hooker and with no Roby today, Lussick will look to show his quality and boss this game against organiser Paul McShane.

Liam Watts vs Kyle Amor: Liam Watts was key for the Tigers on Monday scoring the winning try. Tomorrow, he won’t have to come up against the rested Alex Walmsley and will instead tussle with Kyle Amor. The experienced prop hasn’t played much this year but is one of Super League’s most successful players and will provide Watts and the Cas pack with a unique challenge as he leads the young Saints in this game.

Where the game will be won and lost:

The Tigers have a brand of rugby that can test any and every defence but when it comes doesn’t come off, it can lead to defeat as it did against Hull KR in the cup. They’ll have to be on it here otherwise a young Saints side could take advantage of them. However, the quality of the Tigers first team should give them a rare win over the Saints.

Score Prediction: Castleford Tigers 20-12 St Helens