After a first defeat on British soil in 2022, St Helens will hope to get back to business as usual as they welcome back their fresh first team players.
So, things will be difficult for Salford who came up oh so short against Wigan on Sunday. No doubt tired from that and the Easter period, this game comes at the wrong time.
No doubt they’ll battle for everything at the Totally Wicked Stadium, but the Champions should have enough to defeat them.
Team News
St Helens have recalled the first team players who were rested for the defeat at Castleford last week whilst Morgan Knowles is back after missing the last two games through concussion protocols. Will Hopoate and Sione Mata’utia are back from injury whilst Jon Bennison and Jake Wingfield are out injured. Konrad Hurrell, James Bell and Curtis Sironen meanwhile are suspended. The game is still too soon for Regan Grace to feature.
Salford are still without Joe Burgess and Tim Lafai but have also lost Ryan Brierley and Elijah Taylor. Meanwhile, Marc Sneyd is still out with a knee injury. Ryan Lannon is back in the fold but Salford’s injuries are beginning to mount with Paul Rowley only able to name a 20-man squad.
Match Preview – Key Battles:
Jack Welsby vs Morgan Escare: On Sunday, Morgan Escare returned to the Salford side coming on at halftime and producing a lively and dangerous performance. His speed will test the Saints in a different way to what we would have seen Ryan Brierley bring to the table had he been available. His opposite number will be a very different player in Jack Welsby. Still very quick, the fullback is also adept at organising and defence and will look to shut down Escare.
Jonny Lomax vs Brodie Croft: In the absence of Marc Sneyd, Brodie Croft showed what he can do against Wigan and more of the same could have St Helens’ defence on the back foot. However, if general Jonny Lomax can get things flowing for the Champions as he always does, there may be little chance of Croft impacting the contest.
Joe Batchelor vs Kallum Watkins: Kallum Watkins has come up with two sensational and gutsy performances at second-row in his return from injury playing two games in less than a week. He did not look out of place in that position. He’ll be up against a brilliant all-round backrow in Joe Batchelor who improves every week. Two players with attacking potential, this should be an intriguing battle.
Where the game will be won and lost:
Salford are the kings of hanging in games when the going is tough as we saw at Wigan on Sunday. They’ll need to do that again against a rampant St Helens pack. They will also have to scramble to deny any attacking opportunities. If they can do that, they’ll give themselves a chance of a shock victory.
Score Prediction: St Helens 30-12 Salford Red Devils
