St Helens have confirmed their first pre-season game of 2026, locking in Super League opponents for the game which will also serve as the testimonial match for new skipper Matty Lees.
Saints have confirmed that Lees will take on the captaincy for 2026, claiming the armband from Jonny Lomax, who will still be a key leader within the team.
England international Lees is set to head into his 10th season with St Helens and for that, he’s been handed a testimonial year with the first game that he captains the club in now confirmed to be his testimonial match.
St Helens will host Super League opposition in Castleford Tigers at their newly-named BrewDog Stadium on Saturday, 24th January.
It will mark the first game of the Paul Rowley era and the first of Lees’ captaincy with St Helens having had an off-season of change, particularly after recently adding former Super League Man of Steel Jackson Hastings to their squad.
St Helens set to face Castleford Tigers in pre-season
News of Lees’ testimonial coming against Castleford Tigers was confirmed by both clubs with St Helens releasing a statement to announce the match.
They said: “St Helens will take on Castleford Tigers at The BrewDog Stadium on Saturday, 24th January 2025, with kick off scheduled for 3pm, in what will be Matty Lees’ Testimonial Fixture!”
It’s the first pre-season game that St Helens have announced and with their prior announcement confirming that Lees’ testimonial will be the first time he captains the club, that would also suggest that it will be their first game in the calendar too.
That would leave the weekend of Saturday, 31st January and Sunday, 1st February available if they are to lock in another pre-season game, as round three of the Challenge Cup will be held the week after ahead of Super League launch the following week.
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#⃣🔟 The Saints will take on @CTRLFC at home on Saturday, 24th January 2026 for Matty Lees’ Testimonial Match!
Kick-off at the @BrewDogStadium is scheduled for 3pm, and tickets are on sale online now! 🎟
More ℹ https://t.co/XyjTIApwPl#COYS | @matt_lees1
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) December 2, 2025
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