Wakefield Trinity vs St Helens: Team news, match preview and score prediction

It’s bottom verses top at Belle Vue this weekend as struggling Trinity host the Champions St Helens.

The Saints are looking to continue to pull away at the top of the table whilst a defeat for Wakefield coupled with a win for Toulouse today would only serve to see them slip further behind in the race for survival.

Desperate for a win, a visit from the three time reigning Champions is the last thing Wakefield need.

Team News

Wakefield could give a debut to loan signing Jamie Shaul this week as he swaps Hull for West Yorkshire. Jorge Taufua and Josh Bowden are set for their home debuts whilst Lee Kershaw is in the squad for the first time this year. Kyle Evans has been named in the reserves side for today’s game against Wigan so won’t feature.

It’s a bit tougher reading for the Champions who have lost Will Hopoate, Sione Mata’utia and Morgan Knowles this week with three young men subsequently coming into the squad. None of them are likely to play but it will be good experience for them nonetheless.

Match Preview – Key Battles:

Jacob Miller vs Jonny Lomax: A pair of superb organisers with a touch of class to their game meet here. Miller will have to have a storming game to lead Trinity to a win here but if he can’t get on top of the brilliantly consistent Lomax, it could be a long day for Wakefield.

Matty Ashurst vs Joe Batchelor: Joe Batchelor will be up against his brother in the backrow as well as a former Saint in Matty Ashurst on the back of a landmark appearance. Both backrowers are criminally underrated. This tussle should be fascinating.

Where the game will be won and lost:

If Trinity are going to find a way to win this, they’re going to have to cling on for dear life for the vast majority of the match, try and contain the Saints middles and stretch to deny the threat out wide. But with Saints possessing so many threats across the field, it could be a long day for Wakefield.

Score Prediction: Wakefield Trinity 6-30 St Helens