Jamie Jones-Buchanan surprisingly says this St Helens side is superior to the Leeds team he played in

St Helens face Leeds Rhinos on Friday evening in the televised game but they’ll return to the Totally Wicked Stadium without their leader James Roby.

It’s the first game that the Red Vee will play at home since they were crowned World Club Champions and it’s set to be a special occasion as it is also a repeat of the 2022 Grand Final.

Rohan Smith’s Leeds Rhinos visit looking for their first win of the season but they’ll face a strong St Helens side.

The game kicks off at 20:00.

Coverage starts on Sky Sports Arena from 19:30.

It is a clash between two of Super League’s most successful clubs and now former Rhino Jamie Jones-Buchanan has suggested speaking to Sky Sports that this St Helens side is better than the Rhinos side he played in.

When asked by Brian Carney about if Saints are the best in Super League history, Buchanan said:

“I think so, they’re a pillar of consistency when you get a level when you can win a competition on a yearly basis and do it week in week out is unbelievable

”James Roby is the epitome of ag Helen’s because every week he is nine out of 10. I don’t know how they do it

“You’ve got young kids coming through, Lewis Dodd Jack Welsby and people in their prime like Matty Lees and Morgan Knowles, they could keep it up for two or three years.”

Saints have made just one change and that’s the return of Tommy Makinson after the star winger missed their round one fixture.

Makinson had failed a HIA in the World Club Challenge and therefore was declared unavailable to train for 12 days under the new concussion protocols, ruling him out for their trip to the Jungle.

Lewis Baxter drops out of the squad as a result but otherwise Paul Wellens’ men are unchanged.

⚪ 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🔴

Paul Wellens has named his 21-man squad for the World Club Champions homecoming, and first home game of the @SuperLeague season, against @leedsrhinos!

Read more 👇#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 1, 2023

Skipper James Roby and centre Will Hopoate both remain missing after picking up knocks during their trip down under, whilst Joe Batchelor is still dealing with an injury that prevented him from playing in that game.

Agnatius Paasi also misses out in the match that is expected to be a sell-out crowd with the World Club Challenge trophy set to be paraded pre-game.

As for Leeds, Morgan Gannon has missed out to the squad given his 12-day concussion return to play protocol, whilst youngsters Leon Ruan and Luis Roberts also miss out.

In their place come James Bentley, Liam Tindall and Jack Sinfield who all step into the squad.

Bentley is returning from a knee injury whilst Tindall returns following a brief one week spell at Bradford on his dual registration deal.

Tindall crossed over last week for the Bulls and re-joins alongside the young Sinfield.

James McDonnell could make his debut for the Rhinos following his inclusion in the squad.