Hull KR v St Helens team news as Saints without key man and Micky McIlorum decision made

Willie Peters and Paul Wellens have named their respective Hull KR and St Helens sides for this evening’s play-off semi-final at Craven Park.

A spot in next week’s Grand Final will be the prize for tonight’s winner with Wigan Warriors sealing their place at Old Trafford last week with a win over Leigh Leopards.

As League Leaders’ Shield winners, the Robins are the favourites and given they have beaten St Helens three times already this season, they’ll fancy their chances of reaching the final two. However, the Saints will be on a high after their last ditch win over Leeds Rhinos last time out.

Notably, though, there’s no Mark Percival in the Saints side. The centre picked up a knee injury in the clash with Leeds last week and managed the pain to get to the final whistle. However, despite being named in the 21-man squad, he has not been passed fit to play.

That means Matt Whitley is the man selected at centre with last week’s hero Shane Wright getting the nod in the back-row. Noah Stephens comes on the bench for the Saints, while Matty Lees starts after having to leave at half-time last week for the birth of his child.

The big news from a Rovers perspective is that Micky McIlorum isn’t involved. The hooker had been pushing to recover from an ankle injury in time for the game, but he has not been deemed fit enough to be involved.

As such, Jez Litten, who is walking a disciplinary tightrope, starts and he could be the man to play the full 80 in the number nine spot.

Joe Burgess is in for Noah Booth, who scored twice last time out, while Peters has gone with Oliver Gildart in the left centre spot. That means Jack Broadbent must make do with a spot on the bench for tonight’s game.

Kelepi Tanginoa is the 18th man for the Robins, while Jake Wingfield, on his return from injury plays the same role for the Saints.

Hull KR v St Helens team news

Hull KR: Arthur Mourgue; Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess; Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May; Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella.

Bench: Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Rhyse Martin, Jack Broadbent.

St Helens: Tristan Sailor; Jon Bennison, Harry Robertson, Matt Whitley, Deon Cross; Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax; Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Shane Wright, Morgan Knowles.

Bench: Moses Mbye, James Bell, George Delaney, Noah Stephens.

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