The Saints host two fierce rivals on one huge night of action at the Totally Wicked Stadium, and it all kicks off with our Women taking on Wigan Warriors in The Derby at 5:15pm, followed by St.Helens vs Catalans Dragons at 8pm.
Turnstiles for our Double Header will open at 5pm, so we are encouraging supporters to arrive at our home ground early to see both matches and cheer on both of our teams!
Please note the earlier time of the Women’s Derby Day clash, which is fifteen minutes earlier than last week’s WSL fixture.
Get down to the ground early and make the most of your evening!
TICKET & ENTRY INFORMATION
The quickest and easiest method of securing your spot at the Totally Wicked Stadium is by purchasing your ticket online by visiting eticketing.co.uk/saintsrlfc. You can secure a digital or ‘Print at Home’ ticket which would not require you to visit the Ticket Office.
Find out more about our stands, ticket prices and Ticket Office hours by clicking here.
📰 SQUAD NEWS
Paul Wellens & Matty Smith have announced their Saints squads ahead of Friday night, and we start by taking a look at our Women’s side.
Smith makes one change to his 21-woman squad from last week’s 12-6 victory over Leeds, as Rebecca Rotheram replaces Rachael Woosey.
Click or tap on the image below to read more about our WSL Round Five squad news.
Onto the Men’s squad now and Wellens makes two changes to the squad he announced for the big 40-10 win over Leeds last time out.
A hand fracture is expected to keep Jonny Lomax out for around four weeks, and ankle ligament damage will rule Joe Batchelor unavailable for around eight to nine weeks.
Into the 21-man side then comes youngsters Jake Burns and Leon Cowen, however it remains notable that Agnatius Paasi keeps his spot in the squad too, who if he should play would mark his return to Super League action for the first time in 10 months after suffering a season-ending injury last season in the Challenge Cup Semi-Final.
Click or tap on the image below to read more about our Round Thirteen squad news.
🏉 THE REST OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION
Friday
Leeds Rhinos Women vs Barrow Raiders Ladies – 5:30pm
Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC – 7:45pm
Castleford Tigers vs Hull FC – 8pm
Huddersfield Giants vs Leigh Leopards – 8pm
Saturday
Featherstone Rovers Women vs Huddersfield Giants – 2pm
Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors – 3pm
Hull KR vs Leigh Leopards – 5:30pm
Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers – 5:30pm
Sunday
York Valkyrie vs Warrington Wolves Women – 12pm
Salford Red Devils vs London Broncos – 3pm
Take a look at how the Betfred Super League table looks ahead of Round 13 by clicking here, and how the Women’s Super League table shapes up before Round 5 by clicking here.
🛍 MAY’S MEMBERS’ OFFER
One of the many benefits for our 2024 Members is a special monthly offer with the Saints Superstore!
Throughout May, we will be offering 10% off our popular 24 Core Range.
The Saints Superstore at the Totally Wicked Stadium will be open from 9am until 7:45pm on Friday for game day.
More details and how you can claim your Members offer online can be found by clicking the image below.
📊 THE RECORD
Super League summary – First Team
Saints and Catalans have met 45 times in league action, with the Red V leading the overall head-to-head score with 25 wins to the Dragons 20. Of our 25 wins over the French outfit, two have come in the play-offs in 2014 and 2020, and the big one in 2021 at the Grand Final.
The highest winning Saints score against Catalans came back in a 2007 home game, 53-10, and the Saints’ widest winning margin over the Dragons was in the 2020 semi-final winning 48-2.
Last ten meetings – First Team vs Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons 14, St Helens 8 (SLR7, 6/4/24)
Catalans Dragons 12, St Helens 6 (SLSF, 6/10/23)
St Helens 12, Catalans Dragons 14 (SLR19, 13/7/23)
Catalans Dragons 24, St Helens 12 (SLR11, 5/5/23)
Catalans Dragons 20, St Helens 18 (SLR17, 2/7/22)
Catalans Dragons 20, St Helens 36 (CCQF, 9/4/22)
St Helens 28, Catalans Dragons 8 (SLR1, 10/2/22)
Catalans Dragons 10, St Helens 12 (SLGF, 9/10/21) (at Old Trafford, Manchester)
Catalans Dragons 31, St Helens 30 (aet) (SLR23, 4/9/21) (at St James’ Park, Newcastle)
St Helens 34, Catalans Dragons 12 (SLR18, 7/8/21)
All previous meetings – Women vs Wigan Warriors
Wigan 4, St Helens 12 (SLG1, 6/8/23)
St Helens 26, Wigan 4 (SLG1, 11/6/23)
Wigan 4, St Helens 56 (SLG1, 28/8/22)
St Helens 44, Wigan 0 (SLG1, 15/5/22)
St Helens 52, Wigan 0 (SLPO, 19/9/21)
St Helens 28, Wigan 0 (SL, 15/9/19)
Wigan 4, St Helens 6 (SL, 7/4/19)
Wigan 10, St Helens 6 (SLPO, 7/10/18)
St Helens 10, Wigan 14 (SL, 19/8/18)
Wigan 16, St Helens 6 (SL, 13/5/18)
💬 COACHES PREVIEWS
With Smith keen to show our team wants to compete to win every trophy that is on offer, Friday night’s game gives a big opportunity to do just that against our local neighbours too.
Smith gives the latest on his squad, his thoughts on this selection one week out from Wembley, and speaks with pride about the continued growth of the Women’s game which saw great numbers of supporters tune in to watch last week’s win over Leeds on Sky Sports.
Coach Wellens revealed that for the first time in his young career Jack Welsby as Vice Captain will step up and lead the team out as Captain in Jonny Lomax’s absence due to injury.
With the Dragons boasting a sizeable, formidable pack and Saints doing it tough with front-line forwards out through injury, Paul reaffirmed his belief and confidence in the seventeen men who he will name to take on the French outfit.
Saints TV subscribers can watch the full Coach Previews!
🦺 SUPPORTER SAFETY
St.Helens R.F.C. want to ensure that everyone who comes to enjoy game days at the Totally Wicked Stadium can do so in a safe and friendly environment!
The Club would like to reiterate to supporters that it operates a zero-tolerance approach to any anti-social behaviour, at both our own home ground and when visiting other clubs’ stadiums. Misbehaviours that will not be tolerated include, but are not limited to; physical or verbal abuse, violent conduct, missile throwing, excessive alcohol misuse, and any drug misuse.
Furthermore, the use of pyrotechnics is strictly prohibited under both rugby and football ground regulations. They can cause serious injuries to those who carry them as well as fellow spectators, as well as damage to surfaces such as the playing pitch which can cost clubs thousands of pounds.
The Club during recent seasons has taken preventative actions for home fixtures, with additional stewarding and ‘sniffer’ dog patrols around the stadium. Supporters may encounter these dog patrols when approaching the stadium.
St.Helens would also like to encourage parents/guardians of children coming to the ground to ensure they are always aware of what their child is doing and where in the stadium they are at all times.
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAMES?
Saints will be covering the First Team 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.
Fans can tune in and watch the match live on Sky Sports (Main Event & Action) or on around the globe on SuperLeague+.
Our Women’s social media accounts will have all the coverage of our Women’s game against Leeds. X/Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.
The Club’s social media accounts will also keep supporters updated on the First Team fixture agianst. Follow us on: X/Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Highlights and the full match replay will be available for Saints TV subscribers.
🔻 WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?
Our Women’s side will be wearing our 24 Home Kit against Wigan Warriors, then the Men will be wearing the 24 Away Kit despite this being a home fixture!
The home kit is a traditional white shirt with a Red Vee but with a sharper, modern look in 2024, with watermark shard designs whilst the ‘V’ itself is a subtle two-tone design, a feature never before seen on a St.Helens shirt.
The Saints Away look this season is a striking black and red combo, a modern and exciting colour clash that delivers a memorable design. The shirt is predominantly a deep black with a tonal grey pixel design to the front and back, as well as a red pixelated Chevron design to the sides of the torso.
Below you can see George Delaney (left) in the home strip, and Vicky Whitfield wearing the away kit (right) – although they’ll be wearing the opposite come gameday…!
Get your 24 Saints Kits online by visiting saintssuperstore.com!
🥤 FOOD & DRINKS
Find out much more about what there is to eat and drink at the Totally Wicked Stadium on gameday by clicking here!
Why not try the Saints’ new Cottoms Chicken Balti pie? 👀
ABK Beer – the Official Beer of Rugby League – will be a new draught beer available in the RedV Bar and in the Southwest corner of the stadium, close to the Tom Van Vollenhoven mural!
🗣️ WHO WILL BE THE MATCH OFFICIALS?
Aaron Moore will be the Referee for Friday night’s First Team fixture, and he will be supported by Touch Judges Jonny Roberts and S. Ellis and as with all Men’s Super League fixtures in 2024 there will also be the Video Referee Jack Smith at Rugby League’s new remote refereeing base.
📺 MCCOLM EXCITED FOR DERBY DAY
Luci McColm looks ahead to facing her former side on Friday night, and our #3 discusses our start to the season, getting back into the team following an injury earlier on in the year and how she has fitted into the group over the past year.
Watch the full player preview with Luci on Saints TV!
🛫 LIVERPOOL JOHN LENNON AIRPORT: CROSSBAR CHALLENGE
One lucky Saints 2024 Member at half time on Friday will get the chance to win x2 return flights to Antalya in Turkey with SunExpress*!
SunExpress will be starting direct flights from Liverpool to Antalya from April 2025, and flights are now on sale at sunexpress.com.
With the eyes of all the Saints faithful in the West Stand watching, the contesting Member will get three attempts to hit the crossbar from the 20m line.
As a Club are thrilled to be working with Merseyside’s airport! *T&C’s apply.
🐉 A LOOK AT THE DRAGONS
The Dragons have been consistent contenders under Steve McNamara with their first League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final appearance in 2021, they fought to the end in 2023 and will be wanting to go one better in 2024.
There has been a fair amount of change at Les Dracs, headlined by Sam Tomkins and Mitchell Pearce retiring as two key members of their spine, Tomkins especially given how pivotal he has been to Catalans since joining. Matt Whitley, as we know, has also left to join another Super League clubs alongside Tyrone May, Adam Keighran, and Mickael Goudemand.
A lot of talent to be replaced but Bernard Guasch and McNamara have done as they have typically done in recent years, recruited strongly. Former Saint Theo Fages, bulldozing prop Chris Satae, plus three NRL talents in Jayden Nikorima, Tariq Sims and Bayley Sironen (our #16’s little brother) make Catalans squad look very strong. Add in the late loan addition of Jordan Abdull with a point to prove, things are looking good for the French side.
The Dragons’ record in 2024 is eight wins, four losses, the latest defeat was just last week at home to Warrington Wolves, 8-16. Steve McNamara’s side are doing it tough just like Saints though with injuries ruling some players out, but they still come boasting a sizeable and formidable forwards pack who can lay a physical platform.
THREE TO WATCH
- Tom Johnstone – the star winger has been on fire since moving to the South of France, with an incredible scoring return for the Dragons he always looks lively and can finish if you give just a tiny gap too on the edge
- Theo Fages – Saints fans don’t need reminding how good of a half the Frenchman is, with a renewed energy following his move back to his homeland he appears to be back to his best, a strong kicking and running game he’ll be a key man in attack
- Benjamin Garcia – the captain of Catalans, his workman like efforts are outstanding and lay the groundwork for his outside backs to add the flair and finish too, a leader as well who commands the best for the Dragons
🤴 PERCIVAL ON PREP FOR CATALANS
Mark knows we are in for a tough game this week, as we have struggled against the Catalans Dragons in recent years, but he is looking forward to the test they are going to pose.
Following a big win last time out against the Leeds Rhinos at home, and the Castleford Tigers before that, Mark said the team are looking to build on those performances.
Watch the full player preview with Percy on Saints TV!
✍️ SAINTS SUPERSTORE PLAYER APPEARANCE
