Thursday night will see two Super League clubs in desperate need of a win as St Helens host Hull FC in a battle between one side down on bodies and another down on form.
It’s a fixture that could see over 20 first-team players missing on account of injuries and we’ve taken a look at the early team news for each side, based on their current ‘outs’ and ‘doubts’.
In Saturday’s loss against York Knights, St Helens fielded a bench that boasted just 13 first-team appearances, eight of which had come from Tom Humphreys during this injury-hit season.
Alfie Sinclair was making just his fifth St Helens appearance, Chris Matagi his second, whilst Billy Keeley made his debut, highlighting just how down to the bare bones Saints are.
As for Hull FC, they lost against Huddersfield as their torrid season hit a new low with the Black and Whites now winless in their last seven matches.
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St Helens team news
Saints have a host of players who have had season-ending injuries confirmed with that list now up to eight. Those players are Deon Cross (torn bicep), Daryl Clark (ankle), Matty Lees (knee), George Delaney (shoulder), Matt Whitley (wrist), Jake Wingfield (ACL), Noah Stephens (nerve damage) and Owen Dagnall (ACL).
Among those with unclear return dates are Jonny Lomax (broken jaw), Nene Macdonald (knee) and George Whitby (knee), Curtis Sironen (knee), and David Klemmer (ribs).
Eamon O’Carroll revealed last week that centre Mark Percival (hamstring) could be back in a ‘couple of weeks’, whilst Jed Cartwright (quad) is expected to be back around the end of August.
As such, no one is expected to return but playmaker Jackson Hastings may be a concern after seeming to have an issue with his groin/hamstring that prevented him taking the game-tying conversion in the loss to York Knights.
Hull FC team news
Hull FC have been one of those hardest hit by injuries but they are starting to bring players back in, to the point that they even loaned Jed Cartwright to St Helens.
Will Pryce (ACL) has been out since round two and will remain out for the year whilst John Asiata (hamstring) is another massive absentee, though a number of other players are approaching a return.
Andy Last recently revealed that Sam Lisone (pec), Arthur Romano (ankle) and Ligi Sao (shoulder) are all closing in on returns but he confirmed a season-ending blow for Callum Kemp (shoulder).
Joe Ward (ACL) and Will Kirby (knee) are also done for the year whilst Connor Bailey (clavicle) and Brad Fash (MCL) are both closing in on a return but it’s unclear if that will be this week.
The major question for Thursday’s game is whether Herman Ese’ese is available after his recent bout of tonsilitis, with the prop missing last week’s clash. Matty Laidlaw had left on loan to sign with Hunslet but could well be recalled.
