St.Helens head east on the M62 and go to West Hull to take on the Black & Whites in Round 20 of Betfred Super League 2024, and kick-off at the MKM Stadium is scheduled for 3pm.
🎟 TICKET INFORMATION
St.Helens have been allocated unreserved seating in the North East of the MKM Stadium.
- Adults – £30
- Concession (60+, 17-21, Full Time Students) – £23
- Junior 5-16 – £12
- Junior Member – £5
- Under 5’s – Free but require a ticket
Anybody who has requested collection at the Saints’ Ticket Office must collect their tickets by 5pm on Friday, 2nd August. Any uncollected tickets will be available to collect at the MKM Stadium Ticket Office on gameday.
📰 SQUAD NEWS
Paul Wellens has five changes to the squad he named for the last round of Betfred Super League action, with the headline news being that vice captain Morgan Knowles and fellow senior forward Joe Batchelor are back in the 21-man squad following injuries.
Our other incoming players for the team are hooker Jake Burns, winger Tee Ritson, and young half Will Roberts. Mark Percival and Jonny Lomax miss out due to penalty notices picked up from last Friday’s game against Leigh, Lomax will miss two more after this round.
Click or tap on the image below to read more about our Round Twenty squad news.
Simon Grix, Interim Head Coach for the Airlie Birds, makes three changes to his squad that just came up short against the Catalans Dragons in France last Saturday evening.
Tiaki Chan, Will Kirby, and new loanee from Leeds Rhinos Leon Ruan all come into Hull’s squad. Liam Sutcliffe and Salford loanee King Vuniyayawa miss out due to injury, and Ligi Sao serves the first of a two-match penalty notice.
Hull FC’s 21-man squad vs St.Helens
3. Carlos Tuimavave, 6. Jake Trueman, 8. Herman Ese’ese, 13. Brad Fash, 15. Jordan Lane, 19. Morgan Smith, 21. Will Gardiner, 25. Harvey Barron, 26. Lewis Martin, 27. Zach Jebson, 28. Denive Balmforth, 30. Matty Laidlaw, 31. Jack Walker, 37. Logan Moy, 40. Jack Charles, 43. Ed Chamberlain, 44. Tom Briscoe, 45. Yusuf Aydin, 46. Tiaki Chan, 49. Will Kirby, 51. Leon Ruan.
🏆 THERE’S ONLY #1PRECKY
St Helens & Hull FC continue to honour the legacy of the late great Steve Prescott MBE, with Saturday afternoon’s match the second leg of the Steve Prescott Cup in 2024.
The annual contest between the Saints and the Black & Whites is played over the regular season meetings between the two sides, with the team who has the highest aggregate score across the home and away fixtures winning the trophy.
Hull FC are the current holders of the Steve Prescott Cup despite St.Helens winning two of our three league meetings in 2023.
To find out more about The Steve Prescott Foundation you can visit the website: steveprescottfoundation.co.uk
📊 THE RECORD AGAINST HULL FC
Last ten meetings
St Helens 58, Hull FC 0 (SLR8, 19/4/24)
St Helens 30, Hull FC 12 (SLR27, 22/9/23)
Hull FC 34, St Helens 6 (SLR16, 22/6/23)
Hull FC 18, St Helens 32 (CCQF, 17/6/23)
St Helens 20, Hull FC 12 (SLR5, 17/3/23)
Hull FC 6, St Helens 60 (SLR23, 14/8/22)
St Helens 24, Hull FC 10 (SLR12, 13/5/22)
Hull FC 6, St Helens 38 (SLR2, 19/2/22)
Hull FC 10, St Helens 42 (SLR17, 2/8/21)
Hull FC 18, St Helens 33 (CCSF, 5/6/21) (at Leigh Sports Village)
Super League summary
The Saints have a strong lead in the head-to-head standings against Hull FC. The two have met in the top-flight 65 times with the Red V winning 44 matches, whilst the Black & Whites have won 18 times, with three draws. St. Helens also have secured wins over Hull FC in the 2006 Grand Final, as well as in the 2001 and 2006 Play-Offs.
The highest St. Helens winning score in Super League over Hull FC came in 1999, 74-16, which is one of two times we have recorded our widest margin of victory over the Black & Whites of 58 points. The other occasion the Saints did so was back earlier this year in April!
🔙 BACK TO BUSINESS FOR WHITLEY
After making his return from injury last week on a very rough night for the Saints, Matt Whitley is ready to kick on, find his best form for the back end of the season and help push the Club back up the league table where we believe we belong.
Whitley talks about the rehab of his shoulder injury, and how it’s been hard for him to be on the sidelines whilst the team is down on fully fit troops.
Watch the full player preview with Matt on Saints TV!
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: X/Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Highlights and the full match replay will be available for Saints TV subscribers.
Sky Sports subscribers can watch it live on Sky Sports Action, as can SuperLeague+ subscribers.
🏉 THE REST OF ROUND 20
Thursday
Wigan Warriors 28-14 Huddersfield Giants
Castleford Tigers 10-20 Leigh Leopards
Friday
Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR – 8pm
Saturday
Salford Red Devils vs Leeds Rhinos 5:30pm
Sunday
London Broncos vs Catalans Dragons – 3pm
Take a look at how the Betfred Super League table looks ahead of Round 20 by clicking here.
💬 COACH PREVIEW
Speaking to the press ahead of the game against Hull, Paul Wellens provided the run down on his squad and updated on the injury Jack Welsby suffered during the game against Leigh last week.
Wellens talks about being thin on the ground but that it’s just professional sport and that this challenging period can allow us to improve and respond to the adversity being experienced. The aim for this weekend is to stop the run of results the team are currently on, getting an important two points on the table, regardless of whichever seventeen men take to the field.
Saints TV subscribers can watch the full Coach Preview with Paul Wellens!
🗣️ WHO WILL BE THE MATCH OFFICIALS?
Liam Moore will be the referee for Saturday afternoon’s fixture, and he will be supported by Touch Judges Cameron Worsley and Gareth Jones, and as with all Super League fixtures in 2024 there will also be the Video Referee Chris Kendall at Rugby League’s remote refereeing base.
📈 MAKINSON CLOSE TO 7TH
Tommy Makinson could further cement his place as one of THE great rugby league try scorers with his next four-pointer.
Our #2 is currently in eighth spot in Super League’s all-time try scoring list with 185 tries, just behind Ryan Atkins who has 186. One four-pointer would see Tommy move into joint seventh, with a second taking outright on his own in that spot.
Could Tommy do it on Saturday afternoon, if selected?
⚫⚪ A LOOK AT HULL FC…
It’s been a wild season for the Black & Whites, the winds of change have blown through the MKM Stadium with an Interim Head Coach building some good spirit, a lot of players in and out, with a whole host of signings for next season under their new boss John Cartwright to come in for 2025.
Former Head Coach Tony Smith parted ways with the club after 18 months in charge back in April after their worst start to a season in 25 years. In came new Director of Rugby Richie Myler, and he’s been making big and bold decisions since day one.
Signed to feature of for York Knights this season, Myler has called time on his playing career following an elbow injury which required surgery and was expected to keep him out long term. The 33-year old’s appointment certainly raised eyebrows, but the plan looks good, with an eye on the future.
Grix has brought a new energy, helped no doubt by the promotion of their youth talent such as Jack Charles in the halves, Logan Moy at fullback, and Denive Balmforth at hooker. Spine players who are cutting their teeth, much like our own Harry Robertson at Saints.
The Black & Whites only hold three victories to their name in 2024, the first was a needed one against London Broncos at home back in March. A big run of losses followed that until their triumph over Leeds Rhinos in again at the MKM Stadium in June. However the shock performance or result of the year came just over a fortnight ago when the Black & Whites bested Super League and World Club Champions Wigan with an incredible performance.
THREE TO WATCH
- Lewis Martin – the young winger made his debut last season against Saints, scoring an impressive try from distance and since then he has shown good signs of being Hull’s first choice for a wing spot
- Herman Ese’ese – joining from the NRL side Dolphins, he is a ‘big bopper’ with big runs and strong defence, adding good experience to the team too with New Zealand and Samoa international appearances on his record too – arguably their player of the year to date
- Jake Trueman – the former Castleford Tiger has been plagued by injuries since joining Hull, but when he is on his game he can be destructive on the attack, with a solid kicking game, and great pass selection – was back to his best against Wigan a fortnight ago
⚫ WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?
St.Helens will be wearing our 24 Away Kit in Hull!
Our colours for the road this year are 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.
Get your 24 Away Kit online by visiting saintssuperstore.com!
⏭️ NEXT UP AT HOME: THE RED DEVILS
