Wolves and Saints Set for Crucial Play-Off Clash
On Saturday afternoon, the Warrington Wolves will host their local rivals, the St Helens, in a crucial play-off eliminator match, with a spot in the Super League semi-finals on the line.
In the first play-off eliminator on Friday night, the Leigh Leopards secured a 14-6 victory over the Salford Red Devils, earning a spot in the semi-finals next weekend. Meanwhile, the Wigan Warriors and Hull KR have already secured their places in the semi-finals after finishing in the top two positions in the regular season campaign. These two teams will host the semi-finals against Leigh and the winner of the Warrington-St Helens clash.
Warrington Wolves, led by Sam Burgess, will have home advantage at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having finished higher in the table after 27 rounds. Burgess revealed that centre Rodrick Tai is likely to return this weekend after missing the team’s win over the London Broncos last week due to a minor ankle injury. Versatile forward Joe Philbin is also back in contention for the Wolves, having recovered from a minor calf injury. Furthermore, the hosts will be boosted by the return of key prop Paul Vaughan, who has served his three-match suspension.
As for St Helens, they will be without hooker or half-back Moses Mbye due to a calf injury, with Paul Wellens indicating that it could possibly be Mbye’s season over, even if they make the Grand Final. Youngster Jonny Vaughan has been included in the Saints’ 21-man squad as a result of Mbye’s absence.
“It could possibly be Moses Mbye’s season over, even if they make the Grand Final.” – Paul Wellens
Predicted Lineups
Warrington Wolves:
- Matt Dufty
- Josh Thewlis
- Rodrick Tai
- Toby King
- Matty Ashton
- George Williams
- Josh Drinkwater
- Luke Yates
- Sam Powell
- Paul Vaughan
- John Bateman
- Matty Nicholson
- Ben Currie
- Subs: Danny Walker, Zane Musgrove, James Harrison, Jordy Crowther
St Helens:
- Jack Welsby
- Tommy Makinson
- Mark Percival
- Sione Mata’utia
- Jon Bennison
- Jonny Lomax
- Lewis Dodd
- Alex Walmsley
- Daryl Clark
- Matty Lees
- Joe Batchelor
- Matt Whitley
- Morgan Knowles
- Subs: Jake Burns, James Bell, Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney
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