In a repeat of the 2019 Grand Final, St Helens host Salford with a place in this year’s Grand Final up for grabs.
Saints are chasing history as they look to win a record breaking fourth consecutive Super League title whilst Salford are looking to defy the odds as they did in 2019 only this time they have their eyes on a happy ending to the fairytale.
Two great stories to be told, which side will be able to write their final chapter and who will see their cinema script torn up and told to start again in 2023?
Kick-off time and TV channel
The game kicks off at 1pm.
TV coverage will start at 12:30 on both Sky Sports Arena and Channel 4.
Predicted Line-ups
St Helens
Kristian Woolf said he would be naming his strongest side since the Magic Weekend this week, despite the number of absentees his side is suffering from. He does have some real quality back in his squad such as Mark Percival and Sione Mata’utia, so the question is how will he fit all quality in the same team. The Saints have looked a lot better balanced since Dodd’s injury when Welsby has played in the halves and the return of Percival and Mata’utia may allow that with Percival on the wing and Mata’utia at centre with Jon Bennison at fullback. This of course would be harsh on Ben Davies. As for who will replace Alex Walmsley in the middle, it’s likely to be Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook so that Agnatius Paasi can still offer impact from the bench.
27 Jon Bennison
2 Tommy Makinson
23 Konrad Hurrell
11 Sione Mata’utia
4 Mark Percival
1 Jack Welsby
6 Jonny Lomax
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
9 James Roby
10 Matty Lees
16 Curtis Sironen
12 Joe Batchelor
13 Morgan Knowles
Substitutes
14 Joey Lussick
17 Agnatius Paasi
19 Jake Wingfield
20 James Bell
Salford Red Devils
The big sticking point for Salford is the halfback spot vacated by the absent Brodie Croft. With no Dan Sarginson to take over from Ryan Brierley at fullback, Chris Atkin will surely start at six which leaves a gap on the bench. Could we see young Amir Bourouh take it as an option at nine or will Paul Rowley back Andy Ackers to play 80 minutes naming an extra forward on the bench instead in the shape of someone like Harvey Livett? It’ll also be interesting to see what dynamic Rowley adopts in the pack after rotating his middles frequently recently.
1 Ryan Bierley
2 Ken Sio
28 Deon Cross
4 Tim Lafai
5 Joe Burgess
18 Chris Atkin
7 Marc Sneyd
29 Alex Gerrard
9 Andy Ackers
19 Jack Ormondroyd
13 Elijah Taylor
3 Kallum Watkins
11 Shane Wright
Substitutes
15 King Vuniyayawa
17 Harvey Livett
26 Sam Luckley
32 Tyler Dupree
