St Helens face Leigh Leopards this evening in what is arguably their biggest game of the season so far. The Saints currently sit just a point and a place below the Leopards in the Super League table and if they can pick up their sixth win on the spin, they’ll make a real statement about just what they’re capable of during the final few months of the season.
Leigh have already made that statement with wins coming over Wigan Warriors and Hull KR in the last two weeks. Adrian Lam’s side are third at present and they a win on Merseyside will carry them to within a point of the top two.
It’s a huge game for both teams then and it seems Lam and Wellens will be forced into changes. Here’s how we think St Helens and Leigh will line up.
We’ll start with the home team who will be without both Daryl Clark and Jake Burns through injury. The pair picked up head knocks in the first half of the win over Leeds Rhinos and they are ineligible to play tonight as result.
Moses Mbye is the obvious choice to play that number nine role, with George Whitby fit and available to come into the half-back spot. That will likely be the only change to St Helens’ starting XIII, with the only other switch coming on the bench.
Jake Wingfield will keep his spot to provide hooker cover, and it seems he’ll be joined George Delaney, Agnatius Paasi and the fit again James Bell. Bell hasn’t played since April due to a foot injury, but he’s fit enough to be in the squad this week and he’ll likely come off the bench against his former club.
Leigh look set to make just one change with Ethan O’Neill a big doubt for the game due to a knee injury. Lam said he could play when speaking to the press on Wednesday afternoon but he also admitted that he’d favour a cautious approach, with Andrew Badrock more likely to play in the back-row.
That could be the only change to the 17, with Leigh on a role and Lam likely reluctant to make unnecessary alterations.
Predicted St Helens v Leigh Leopards teams
St Helens: Tristan Sailor; Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Mark Percival, Owen Dagnall; George Whitby, Jonny Lomax; Alex Walmsley, Moses Mbye, Matty Lees; Curtis Sironen, Matt Whitley; Morgan Knowles.
Bench: George Delaney, Jake Wingfield, James Bell, Agnatius Paasi.
Leigh Leopards: Bailey Hodgson; Keanan Brand, Tesi Niu, Umyla Hanley, Josh Charnley; Gaz O’Brien, Lachlan Lam, Owen Trout, Edwin Ipape, Joe Ofahengaue; Andrew Badrock, Frankie Halton; Isaac Liu
Bench: Jack Hughes, Alec Tuitavake, Ben McNamara, Matt Davis.
