St Helens head coach Paul Rowley has made his call on Jack Welsby with the full-back named on the bench as Tristan Sailor starts at full-back once again.
Welsby suffered a dislocated shoulder in round one and in his absence, Tristan Sailor has deputised brilliantly which had created a major dilemma for the St Helens coach.
He’s now made his decision with Welsby set to return from the bench in a much-changed side that also sees Daryl Clark drop out.
Saints will host York Knights whilst their opponents from last week, Wakefield Trinity, travel to take on Leeds Rhinos in a West Yorkshire derby between two of Super League’s top sides.
Brad Arthur has previously suggested that he would name the same 17 and that is the case but the same can’t be said for Wakefield who have had a number of key men drop out.
Jake Connor’s World Cup chances, Brian McDermott reaction & Leeds Rhinos early title favourites – Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show
Super League team news
Leeds Rhinos versus Wakefield Trinity
Brad Arthur names the exact same 17 as last week and it’s also unchanged in terms of where each player plays. That means Danny Levi gets the nod to start at hooker with Jarrod O’Connor playing from the bench.
Trinity lost second-rower Seth Nikotemo to a HIA last week so he drops out and Jay Pitts moves into the second-row, with Ky Rodwell replacing him at loose forward.
The major call for Daryl Powell is that ex-Leeds man Jack Sinfield is replaced by Mason Lino whilst the other spine change is that Tyson Smoothy starts with Harvey Smith coming on off the bench.
Leeds Rhinos XIII: Lachie Miller; Maika Sivo, Ash Handley, Jack Bird, Ryan Hall; Brodie Croft, Jake Connor; Mikolaj Oledzki, Danny Levi, Keenan Palasia; Chris Hankinson, James McDonnell; Kallum Watkins
Interchanges: Tom Holroyd, Cooper Jenkins, Jarrod O’Connor, Cameron Smith
Wakefield Trinity XIII: Josh Rourke; Oliver Pratt, Cameron Scott, Corey Hall, Jayden Myers; Jake Trueman, Mason Lino; Mike McMeeken, Tyson Smoothy, Caleb Hamlin-Uele; Matty Storton, Jay Pitts; Ky Rodwell
Interchanges: Caius Faatili, Harvey Smith, Trey Lolesio, Will Tate
Starting May with a big West Yorkshire clash 👊
Watch the Rhinos host Trinity on @SkySports 📺#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/95axxUGYhg
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 1, 2026
St Helens versus York Knights
Paul Rowley has not only made his Jack Welsby call but also changed up his hooker with Daryl Clark dropping out of the squad and loanee Bill Leyland starting at nine.
Alex Walmsley also starts with David Klemmer moving to loose forward as Joe Shorrocks drops out, whilst Nene Macdonald makes his long-awaited return in the centres.
York Knights lost Josh Griffin to a ruptured bicep so the veteran drops out of the squad as one of three changes with Sam Wood and Oli Field also dropping out.
Matty Foster, Justin Sangare and loanee Myles Harrison are the replacements with Sam Cook moving from the bench to be the starting loose forward.
St Helens XIII: Tristan Sailor; Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Nene Macdonald, Owen Dagnall; Jonny Lomax, Jackson Hastings; Alex Walmsley, Bill Leyland, Matty Lees; Shane Wright, Matt Whitley; David Klemmer
Interchanges: Jack Welsby, George Delaney, Noah Stephens, Jake Davies
York Knights XIII: David Nofoaluma; Jon Bennison, Kieran Buchanan, Myles Harrison, Scott Galeano; Ata Hingano, Cody Hunter; Jack Martin, Paul McShane, Paul Vaughan; Matty Foster, Jesse Dee; Sam Cook
Interchanges: Denive Balmforth, Ben Littlewood, Xavier Va’a, Justin Sangare
A first #SuperLeague meeting between the Saints and the Knights 🏉
Watch it on SuperLeague+ or SkySports+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/FflTfBEXKb
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 1, 2026
