St Helens v Leeds Rhinos team news as Paul Wellens dealt double injury blow

St Helens will be without two key men when they host Leeds Rhinos on Friday night in Super League. Paul Wellens was already without a raft of players, with the likes of Jack Welsby, Mark Percival and Lewis Murphy missing due to injury.

However, the Saints boss will be without Joe Batchelor and George Whitby this week due to the injuries they picked up against Salford Red Devils last time out. Whitby picked up a head knock and misses the game due to concussion protocols, while Batchelor has picked up a calf injury.

The Batchelor injury will be particularly concerning given the back-rower was making his first appearance in two months after overcoming a hamstring problem.

The injuries mean there will be a shake up in the halves with Jonny Lomax without a recognised half-back partner, while a new name is required to replace Batchelor on the bench, too.

Curtis Sironen is included, though, despite being forced off the field last week with a back spasm.

Will Roberts and Jake Davies are the two players who step into the fray this week for the Saints having represented Swinton Lions last week on dual registration.

Rhinos boss Brad Arthur has made just one change to his squad, with Alfie Edgell being replaced by Ethan Clark-Wood. Leeds are on a five-game winning streak as it stands and that’s a run that started with the win over St Helens at Magic Weekend at the start of May.

St Helens v Leeds Rhinos 21-man squads

St Helens: Kyle Feldt, Jon Bennison, Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles, Moses Mbye, Matt Whitley, Aganatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney, Noah Stephens, Jake Burns, Harry Robertson, Will Roberts, Owen Dagnall, Jake Davies, Deon Cross.

Leeds Rhinos: Lachie Miller, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft, Mikolaj Oledzki, Andy Ackers, Keenan Palasia, James Bentley, James McDonnell, Cam Smith, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Lisone, Morgan Gannon, Cooper Jenkins, Jake Connor, Tom Holroyd, Jack Sinfield, Riley Lumb, Ethan Clark-Wood, Kallum Watkins.