St.Helens' Reserve side are in Grand Final action this weekend, as they take the short trip over Billinge Hill to face Wigan Warriors, with kick-off at Robin Park Arena at 12pm on Sunday, 1st October.
Derek Hardman’s side face a tough test in the Grand Final, with the derby meaning more than just bragging rights this time around with silverware on the line at Wigan’s First Team training base at Robin Park Arena.
Saints finished the regular season in second place with 23 points, two points behind the league Leading Warriors.
TICKET DETAILS
Supporters can pay on the gate on Sunday at Robin Park Arena. Tickets will cost £5 for adults, and £3 for concessions.
OUR RESERVES’ STORY SO FAR…
Both sides had been scheduled to play 13 games in the Reserves format in 2023, however due to the withdrawal of the Leigh Leopards, and Wigan having a game against Newcastle abandoned, both sides played fewer than the initial amount.
Saints won eleven of their thirteen regular season games. The two games Saints failed to win were a narrow home defeat to the Warriors at the Totally Wicked Stadium, whilst also drawing against Leeds Rhinos earlier on in the season. Saints’ standout moment saw a late Dan Moss drop-goal earn a come-from-behind win against Hull FC in June.
The unbeaten Warriors’ only failure to win every game came during a 12-12 draw at Castleford in March. Otherwise they had a perfect record in 2023.
The Table
Saints’ Season Results
Newcastle Thunder (H) – W 72-4
Wakefield Trinity (H) W 50-20
Bradford Bulls (A) W 14-30
Castleford Tigers (H) W 28-22
Salford Red Devils (H) W 44-22
Leeds Rhinos (A) D 22-22
Wigan Warriors (H) L 24-26
Hull FC (A) W 32-33
Warrington Wolves (A) W 22-56
Huddersfield Giants (H) W 58-16
London Broncos (A) W 14-74
Hull KR (H) W 52-6
SAINTS’ STANDOUTS
Head Coach, Derek Hardman, has named three players to look out for ahead of Sunday’s Final at Robin Park Arena.
Jake Burns
Burns has featured nine times for the Reserves in 2023, scoring one try. He has also enjoyed loan spells at both Swinton Lions, and North Wales Crusaders, where he featured in the League One Grand Final last weekend against Doncaster.
Brett Bailey
Bailey has featured twelve times for the Red V this season, scoring five tries. The Prop will be looking to have another big game on Sunday to help lay the platform for a Saints victory. Bailey moved up to Reserves from the u19 level last season.
Alfie Sinclair
Sinclair has featured nine times for the Reserves in 2023, adding to the eight appearances he made last year for the side. He has progressed through the ranks, all the way through Scholarship to the Reserves Grand Final on Sunday.
