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St Helens v Leeds Rhinos line-ups predicted as injury crisis forces Saints’ changes

St Helens boss Paul Wellens on the sidelines

St Helens host Leeds Rhinos looking for a crucial win in the face of an injury crisis and we’ve predicted the line-ups for both sides.

The Red Vee have been doing it tough in 2025 with injuries, just as they did in the latter half of the 2024 campaign. That injury run in 2024 saw St Helens drop from first in Round 14 to almost missing the play-offs for the first time in Super League history.

After 14 rounds in 2025 having had numerous injury issues, St Helens sit fifth and will be hoping that they can push on and solidify a play-off position but they take on an in-form Leeds Rhinos.

The Rhinos haven’t lost since Round Nine against Hull KR, a defeat they responded to by beating tonight’s opponents at Magic Weekend. That 17-4 win at St James Park was the first of five consecutive wins for Brad Arthur’s side who are looking to keep the pressure on Hull KR and Wigan Warriors.

In the pair’s second meeting of the Super League campaign, and third on the year having met in the Challenge Cup, we’ve predicted how each side could line up based on the 21-man squads.

How St Helens could line up against Leeds

The win against Salford last week saw Saints welcome back Kyle Feldt but they also saw fresh injury concerns emerge with George Whitby (HIA), Curtis Sironen (back) and Joe Batchelor (calf) all suffering blows.

Sironen has been named in the 21-man squad so could be available to play but the other two won’t and that means Paul Wellens needs to tweak his spine once again having only just had to account for the loss of Jack Welsby.

Moving Tristan Sailor into the halves from full-back and shifting young Harry Robertson from centre to the number one role would make sense, however, that creates a further domino effect.

Agnatius Paasi missed out previously and could do so again with Noah Stephens preferred off the bench but the big recall could be Jon Bennison, who hasn’t played since being hooked against Leeds in Newcastle.

Predicted St Helens XIII: Harry Robertson; Kyle Feldt, Owen Dagnall, Deon Cross, Jon Bennison; Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax; Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees; Curtis Sironen, Matt Whitley, Morgan Knowles

Interchanges: Moses Mbye, George Delaney, Noah Stephens, Jake Wingfield

How Leeds Rhinos could line up against Saints

In contrast to St Helens, Leeds are probably the healthiest team in Super League with pre-season NRL recruit Maika Sivo among their only notable names to be missing, albeit with a major injury.

With Andy Ackers returning to the 21-man squad last week and having had a game in the reserves, the question is whether he’s put enough pressure on to earn a start but Jarrod O’Connor has been brilliant in his absence.

Cameron Smith also offers an option at hooker if needed with the co-captain used off the bench in recent weeks as Kallum Watkins continues to start at loose forward, having just signed a new deal for 2026.

All signs point to an unchanged side meaning that the likes of Cooper Jenkins, Andy Ackers, Jack Sinfield and Ethan Clark-Wood could be set to play in the reserves again.

Predicted Leeds Rhinos XIII: Lachie Miller; Ryan Hall, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Riley Lumb Jake Connor, Brodie Croft; Keenan Palasia, Jarrod O’Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki; James McDonnell, Morgan Gannon, Kallum Watkins

Interchanges: Tom Holroyd, Sam Lisone, James Bentley, Cameron Smith

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