Warrington Wolves and St Helens will be feeling the pressure this week as they look to get back to winning ways on Thursday night. The two sides meet at the Halliwell Jones Stadium for the third time in six weeks tomorrow and it’s fair to say both will have hoped to have found more traction this season.
St Helens are fifth at present, having lost three of their opening eight games. That includes a defeat to Warrington in March, while the loss against Wigan Warriors on Good Friday will have left a bitter taste.
Warrington, on the other hand, are ninth at present, having won four and lost four. However, with defeats coming in their last two, including at Leigh Leopards on Saturday, they’ll be putting themselves under pressure to set the record straight.
Both are missing key men with Paul Wellens and Sam Burgess having to go with either youngsters or makeshift options in key positions. Here’s how we think Warrington Wolves and St Helens will line up.
Sam Burgess made just one change to his squad this week with James Harrison returning to the fold and it seems fair to expect a degree of consistency in selection this week, despite the setback last time around.
Harrison will likely come into the 17, either in the front row or on the bench, while fans can expect to see Danny Walker starting at six in George Williams’ absence once more. That’s despite young half-back Ewan Irwin being included again. Stefan Ratchford is named, too, but hasn’t been in favour of late.
That’s a change that will see Sam Powell named at nine with Wire having strength in depth in the hooker position.
St Helens hooker Daryl Clark is fit after missing the Good Friday derby and looks likely to share the hooker spot with Moses Mbye with Wellens probably keen to manage his game time.
With Joe Batchelor dropping out, Matt Whitley could be the man to step in at back-row and that could open up a place at centre for youngster Owen Dagnall. Behind Mark Percival, Ben Davies is probably the most experienced centre option, but Dagnall has already caught the eye once this season against West Hull in the Challenge Cup and he impressed while in action for Halifax Panthers on dual reg, too.
George Whitby could get the nod over Jonny Lomax once more in the halves, while a bench of Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney, Noah Stephens and Clark makes sense.
Predicted Warrington Wolves v St Helens line-ups
Warrington Wolves predicted line-up: Matt Dufty; Josh Thewlis, Toby King, Rodrick Tai, Matty Ashton; Danny Walker, Marc Sneyd; Paul Vaughan, Sam Powell, Luke Yates; Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Dan Russell; Ben Currie.
Bench: James Harrison, Joe Philbin, Zane Musgrove, Jordy Crowther.
St Helens predicted line-up: Tristan Sailor; Jon Bennison, Owen Dagnall, Mark Percival, Lewis Murphy; Jack Welsby, George Whitby; Alex Walmsley, Moses Mbye, Matty Lees; Curtis Sironen, Matt Whitley; Morgan Knowles.
Bench: Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney, Noah Stephens, Daryl Clark.
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