St Helens have been boosted by the returns of five key men ahead of their must win clash with Castleford Tigers at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Paul Wellens’ side were underwhelming last time out at Warrington Wolves but the head coach has had the luxury of being able to make changes with pivotal players returning to the fold for tonight’s contest.
Tommy Makinson starts after serving a ban, while Jack Welsby is given the full-back nod after only being fit enough to come off the bench at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. Mark Percival, Lewis Dodd, Daryl Clark and James Bell have all overcome injury issues, too, with Saints moving forward with a side that can be considered close to being at full strength.
Waqa Blake, who has been heavily criticised of late drops out, as does Tee Ritson and Harry Robertson, who picked up a knock last time out. Moses Mbye is banned for one game, while Jonathon Vaughan is the other man to drop out there.
Hull KR have also been boosted by the return of a key man as they take on Leigh Leopards at the Leigh Sports Village. Niall Evalds missed last week’s loss at Wigan Warriors through injury, but he is fit enough to take up the full-back reins as the club look to keep their League Leaders’ Shield hopes alive. Jesse Sue has also overcome a knock to play but there’s no Jai Whitbread or Kelepi Tanginoa.
Riley Lumb replaces Lachlan Miller in the only change Brad Arthur has made to face Wigan Warriors.
Here’s tonight’s team news
Wigan Warriors (v Leeds): Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.
Bench: Liam Byrne, Patrick Mago, Tom Forber, Tyler Dupree.
Leeds Rhinos (v Wigan): Alfie Edgell, David Fusitu’a, Paul Momirovski, Harry Newman, Riley Lumb, Brodie Croft, Matt Frawley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Andy Ackers, Justin Sangare, James McDonnell, Rhyse Martin, Cam Smith.
Bench: Sam Lisone, James Bentley, Jarrod O’Connor, James Donaldson.
Leigh Leopards (v Hull KR): Matt Moylan, Josh Charnley, Ricky Leutele, Umyla Hanley, Darnell McIntosh, Gaz O’Brien, Lachlan Lam, Tom Amone, Matt Davis, Robbie Mulhern, Kai O’Donnell, Frankie Halton, John Asiata.
Bench: Owen Trout, Aaron Pene, Jack Hughes, Brad Dwyer
Hull KR (v Leigh): Niall Evalds, Joe Burgess, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Ryan Hall, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Jesse Sue, Matt Parcell, Dean Hadley, Matty Storton, James Batchelor, Elliott Minchella.
Bench: Tom Opacic, Jez Litten, Sam Luckley, Jack Brown.
St Helens (v Castleford): Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Sion Mata’utia, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Jake Burns, Matty Lees, Matt Whitley, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.
Bench: Daryl Clark, James Bell, Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney.
Castleford Tigers (v St Helens): Fletcher Rooney, Jason Qareqare, Luke Hooley, Alex Mellor, Innes Senior, Rowan Milnes, Jacob Miller, Liam Watts, Paul McShane, Muizz Mustapha, George Lawler, Elie El-Zakhem, Liam Horne.
Bench: Jenson Windley, Daniel Hindmarsh, Brad Martin, Akim Matvejev.
