St Helens and Hull FC have confirmed their teams for tonight’s Super League clash with the Red Vee, knowing how damaging a defeat would be to their top six hopes.
Saints are already teetering on the brink of missing the Super League play-offs for the first time in Super League history, sitting two points adrift of the top six and on an inferior points difference to all of their rivals.
A loss last week to York was incredibly damaging to those top six hopes but Saints weren’t the only side to suffer a bad loss, as Hull FC’s terrible run of form continued with a defeat to Huddersfield Giants.
That defeat has dragged Hull FC into a genuine battle for the wooden spoon with the Black and Whites sitting just two points clear of basement dwellers Huddersfield, and each team’s scenario creates a match tonight where both sides are desperate for a win.
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St Helens team news
St Helens named George Whitby to their 21-man squad and interim coach Eamon O’Carroll then confirmed on Wednesday that the playmaker would play from the bench on his return after knee surgery.
O’Carroll also confirmed that youngster Billy Keeley, who debuted against York, would get the start tonight and that is the case with Jacob Host dropping to bench as Keeley starts in the second-row.
Tom Humphreys starts over Jake Burns who drops out with Whitby likely to play that utility hooker role off the bench. Matty Evans also returns after his HIA with Alfie Sinclair dropping out.
St Helens XIII: Jack Welsby, Jacob Douglas, Tristan Sailor, Jake Davies, Lewis Murphy, Harry Robertson, Jackson Hastings, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Tom Humphreys, Alex Walmsley, Billy Keeley, Shane Wright, Joe Shorrocks
Interchanges: Jacob Host, George Whitby, Matty Evans, Chris Matagi
😇 Here is how the Saints will lineup tonight to take on @hullfcofficial in Round 22 of the @SuperLeague!
Live Match Centre
➡️ https://t.co/o2YGwFdHfa#COYS pic.twitter.com/7eAIndQ7vz— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 6, 2026
Hull FC team news
Hull FC were hoping to bring centre Arthur Romano back for the first time since Good Friday following his ‘double whammy’ injury, something that will have been particularly timely given the injury to Davy Litten.
Romano is set to start from the bench but there is a change among the backs as Lewis Martin starts on the wing with Tom Briscoe moving to centre to replace the injured Litten.
Herman Ese’ese also returns to the starting XIII in a big boost as he starts ahead of Hugo Salabio, who drops to 18th man whilst Cade Cust drops to the bench with Amir Bourouh starting.
Hull FC XIII: Logan Moy, Harvey Barron, Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Lewis Martin, Jake Arthur, Aidan Sezer, Herman Ese’ese, Amir Bourouh, Harvie Hill, Joe Batchelor, Ethan O’Neill, James Bell
Interchanges: Cade Cust, Yusuf Aydin, Arthur Romano, Max Wood
Our team news is confirmed at the BrewDog Stadium 📋🔒
Read 👉 https://t.co/u4rsLeGFuW
⚫️⚪️ #COYH | https://t.co/cxzK1xEDLH pic.twitter.com/QDLEJJHLfu
— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) August 6, 2026
