Match Preview: Warrington Wolves (A)

TICKET INFORMATION

Saints supporters’ tickets have been allocated in both the West Stand Standing and North Stand Seating.

Tickets can also be purchased from the Ticket Office at the Halliwell Jones Stadium until kick-off.

Ticket Collections not made before 12pm on Friday, 7th July will be no longer available to pick up from the Saints’ Ticket Office, but will be made available to collect directly at Halliwell Jones Stadium’s Ticket Office on gameday.

Full ticketing information for this fixture can be viewed HERE.

SQUAD NEWS

The Saints’ Head Coach makes just one change to the squad that was announced for last week’s win over the Tigers, with Joe Batchelor stepping out while youngster Lewis Baxter comes in.

Read more on the Saints’ squad news by clicking on the image below.

St Helens 21-man squad vs Warrington Wolves

1. Jack Welsby, 3. Will Hopoate, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Lewis Dodd, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Joey Lussick, 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 19. James Bell, 21. Ben Davies,22. Sam Royle, 23. Konrad Hurrell, 24. Lewis Baxter, 25. Tee Ritson, 30. George Delaney.

𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙤 𝙍𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 📋

W/ @CheshireMould pic.twitter.com/ryPe7yEl0r

— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) July 5, 2023

The Wolves have named their key star half-back George Williams in their 21-man squad, but will be without Sam Kasiano and James Harrison who are both suspended for Friday night’s fixture.

Saints have already faced the Wire this year back in April at the Totally Wicked Stadium and secured a big result, over the then league leaders, to convincingly beat Daryl Powell’s men 28-6.

Powell’s Wolves are on a run of three straight defeats, including being knocked out of the Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage. So on Friday night in front of their own fans, in a local rivalry, they will have plenty of motivation to perform and stop their current run of form.

Warrington Wolves 21-man squad vs St Helens

1. Matt Dufty, 2. Josh Thewlis, 3. Peter Mata’utia, 4. Stefan Ratchford, 5. Matty Ashton, 6. George Williams, 7. Josh Drinkwater, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Ben Currie, 15. Joe Philbin, 16. Danny Walker, 17. Gil Dudson, 19. Joe Bullock, , 20. Connor Wrench, 21. Greg Minikin, 23. Tom Whitehead, 24. Luke Thomas, 26. Adam Holroyd, 34. Matty Russell, 35. Lucas Green.

SCDF & ST. HELENS MIND: THE WALK TO WARRINGTON

Before the big clash in Warrington, a team of 70 Saints will be tackling the 9-mile journey to attend the game the hard way – on foot!

Our team of walkers are made up of SCDF staff, St. Helens’ LDRL players, Saints supporters, and local amateur sides. All are raising funds for the Saints Community Development Foundation and St. Helens MIND.

You can show your support by donating via this link – Walk to Warrington – GoFundMe

Both the SCDF and St. Helens Mind provide vital services for the people of St Helens, especially around the field of Mental Health support, and any and all donations would be gratefully received. Thank you.

A LOOK AT WARRINGTON…

After a dismal 2022, the Wolves were enjoying a change of fortunes this year sitting top of the table in the early stages of the season. But coming into this game they are on a run of three defeats, are out of the Challenge Cup, and are slipping from the lofty position of the table they were in.

Daryl Powell has consistently talked about changing the ‘culture’ of the Wolves and that has seen the Club make wholesale changes, backing their man as Head Coach.

During 2022 they brought in talent such as Tom Mikaele, Kyle Amor, Matt Dufty, Jake Wardle and Matty Nicholson, whilst players like Mike Cooper, Josh Charnley and Toby King exited during the year. Those changes did not prevent them falling to their worst finish in the summer era, second from bottom in eleventh place. The end of the year could not come soon enough for the Wire, who added big names for 2023 during this period of change.

Paul Vaughan, Gil Dudson, Sam Kasiano and Josh Drinkwater and Josh McGuire had made their squad stronger, although McGuire has now left Wire following a second ‘unacceptable language’ ban.

The two clubs met twice in 2022 with the Red V getting the better of Warrington on both ocassions, and Saints have already faced the Wire this year back in April at the Totally Wicked Stadium and secured a big result, over the then league leaders, to convincingly beat Powell’s men 28-6.

WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?

Whilst it is an away fixture, St. Helens will be wearing our hugely popular 2023 Home Kit which features our 150 year crest and the traditional, old-school Red-V!

You can get yours online by visiting saintssuperstore.com.

THE REST OF ROUND 18 IN SUPER LEAGUE

Friday

Wakefield Trinity vs Wigan Warriors – 7:45pm
Castleford Tigers vs Leigh Leopards – 8pm

Saturday

Catalans Dragons vs Huddersfield Giants – 6pm

Sunday

Hull KR vs Hull FC – 12pm
Salford Red Devils vs Leeds Rhinos – 3pm

BIG AL EXPECTING A BIG GAME

Prop forward Alex Walmsley knows all about Saints/Warrington games and he looks ahead with Saints TV to Friday night’s big game and facing off against fellow big man Gil Dudson and Paul Vaughan.

Watch the full player preview with Alex Walmsley on Saints TV!

RECENT RECORD AGAINST THE WOLVES

Super League summary

The Saints have a strong foothold in the head-to-head record against Warrington, winning 55 of the meetings (including wins in 2010 and 2012 play-offs), whilst Wolves have won 16, and honours have been shared in a draw only twice.

Our highest score and widest winning margin over Warrington came in a 2022 home victory, 72-2.

Last ten meetings

St Helens 28, Warrington 6 (SLR10, 20/4/23)
Warrington 10, St Helens 12 (SLR13, 19/5/22)
St Helens 28, Warrington 2 (SLR5, 11/3/22)
Warrington 14, St Helens 24 (SLR22, 30/8/21)
St Helens 2, Warrington 6 (SLR10, 17/6/21)
St Helens 18, Warrington 20 (CCQF, 19/9/20) (at AJ Bell Stadium, Salford)
Warrington 19, St Helens 0 (SLR2, 6/2/20)
St Helens 4, Warrington 18 (CCF, 24/8/19) (at Wembley Stadium)
Warrington 12, St Helens 30 (SLR25, 8/8/19)
Warrington 10, St Helens 21 (SLR20, 28/6/19)

WELLENS EXPECTS A MOTIVATED WIRE

The Red V boss gives the latest update on his squad’s fitness, with Joe Batchelor still expected to miss a couple of weeks, but may push to be available for next week’s game against Catalans Dragons.

Furthermore, given the Wire’s recent poor form which has seen them drop from the top two of the league, suffer three defeats in a row and exit the Challenge Cup, Wellens is expecting a tough challenge as Warrington look to get back to winning ways against the Champions.

Saints TV subscribers can watch Paul Wellens’ preview in full!

UP TO NINTH?

Should Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook play for the Saints on Friday night, he would register his 420th Super League appearance, moving him into stand-alone ninth place in the list of the competition’s all-time appearance makers.

At the top of that list is the one and the only James Roby on 482!

1st. James Roby, 2nd. 482 Kevin Sinfield 454, 3rd. Andy Lynch 452, 4th. Paul Wellens 439, 5th. Jamie Peacock 438, 6th. Leon Pryce 432, 7th. Ben Westwood 430, 8th. Rob Burrow 429 9th. Danny Tickle 419 & Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook 419.

WHO WILL BE THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE?

Jack Smith will be the referee for Friday evening’s fixture, and he will be supported by Touch Judges L. Rush and M. Craven, and video referee Ben Thaler.

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAME?

Saints will be covering the match in full across our live Match Centre where you can find out the team news, follow live game updates, get behind the scenes photos and catch up on all the stories of the game.

Our club social media accounts will also keep supporters updated. Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Highlights and the full match replay will be available for Saints TV subscribers.