2020 Super League – St. Helens vs Leeds Rhinos Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is St. Helens vs Leeds Rhinos taking place? Friday 23rd October, 2020 – 19:45 (UK)
Where is St. Helens vs Leeds Rhinos taking place? Totally Wicked Stadium
What is the expected weather for St. Helens vs Leeds Rhinos? 8c, partly cloudy
What channel is St. Helens vs Leeds Rhinos on? Sky Sports Arena
Where can I stream St. Helens vs Leeds Rhinos? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via the Sky Go app
Where can I get tickets for St. Helens vs Leeds Rhinos? This match will be played behind closed doors
What was the outcome in the last meeting? Leeds Rhinos 0-48 St. Helens
THE TEAM NEWS
ST. HELENS
- After they were given a scare by Wakefield Trinity in their previous clash, St. Helens did not make the same mistake again as they showed their ruthless side to earn a big win and their second in two weeks against Trinity.
- They turned a four-point winning margin into a 42-point winning margin as they blew Wakefield away in the one-sided affair last week with Tommy Makinson earning a hat-trick in a solid showing for Saints.
- They will be further boosted this week as James Graham returns from a period of self-isolation with youngster Jake Wingfield dropping out of the 21-man squad to make space for the veteran forward.
21-man squad: Amor, Batchelor, Bentley, Coote, Dodd, Fages, Grace, Graham, Knowles, Lees, Lomax, Makinson, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Naiqama, Peyroux, Roby, Simm, Smith, Taia, Walmsley, Welsby
Unavailable: Jack Ashworth, Mark Percival
Questionable:
LEEDS RHINOS
- Leeds Rhinos earned a dramatic victory to clinch the Challenge Cup final as they edged Salford Red Devils by a solitary point last week but that success is likely to be short-lived as they return to Super League action.
- Head coach Richard Agar has opted to heavily rotate his squad for this clash with league leaders St. Helens with the vast majority of his side that defeated Salford handed the week off.
- Lance Todd trophy winner Richie Myler is one of those to retain his spot in the squad with Brad Dwyer and Rob Lui also named in the 21 but there are call-ups for a raft of youngsters whilst Jack Walker is also likely to come into the side after he missed out at Wembley.
21-man squad: L. Briscoe, Broadbent, Donaldson, Dwyer, Edwards, Evans, Hall, Harrison, Holroyd, Lui, McLelland, Myler, O’Connor, Oledzki, Seumanufagai, Smith, A. Sutcliffe, Thompson, Tindall, Walker, Walters
Unavailable: Dom Crosby, Stevie Ward, Harry Newman
Questionable:
THE PREDICTION
Leeds Rhinos secured the first major piece of silverware of the season but it is their opponents in this clash, St. Helens, that will have their eyes on the second in the form of the league leaders’ shield. Saints are top of table as the season approaches its climax and whilst their spot in the top four looks secure, the same cannot be said for Leeds. The Rhinos sit just behind Catalans Dragons but fifth-placed Leeds look like they are happy to focus on their remaining fixtures to try and make the play-offs having named a hugely under-strength squad for this clash. Saints won the reverse fixture 0-48 earlier in the campaign and although Leeds have shown big improvements since that loss, a full-strength Saints team should be able to win by at least 20 points.
