Squad watch: Super League Round 2 squad news, TV coverage & predictions

World Club Challenge champions St Helens land back in England this week, setting up a full round of Super League action for Round Two. 

The action gets back underway on Thursday night as Salford and Hull KR go head-to-head at the AJ Bell Stadium. Both sides picked up opening weekend wins over Leigh and Wigan respectively. Their clash will be live on Sky Sports with an 8pm kick-off.

Meanwhile, Leeds’ home clash against Hull on Friday will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

St Helens return to Super League action following their triumph in Australia over Penrith with a trip to Castleford, live on Channel 4 on Sunday.

Squad watch is our weekly feature keeping you up to date with all the latest squad news as it comes in throughout the week. Check back here for all the squad releases.

Salford v Hull KR (Thursday, 8pm, live on Sky Sports)

Winger Joe Burgess returns to Paul Rowley’s Salford squad, having picked up an opening weekend win over Leigh.

Hull KR will be without four first-team players for their trip to the AJ Bell Stadium on Thursday.

Rhys Kennedy misses out due to a failed HIA during their opening win over Wigan, while Ryan Hall sustained a rib injury. Matty Storton has not been named in the 21-man squad by Willie Peters due to a foot injury.

And the biggest blow comes to Lachlan Coote, who will miss the game with a minor hamstring strain.

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Watkins, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Ormondroyd, Ackers, Vuniyayawa, Stone, Partington, Atkin, Dupree, Wright, Gerrard, Longstaff, Bourouh, Williams, Costello, Cross.

Hull KR: Ryan, Opacic, Kenny-Dowall, Abdull, Sue, Parcell, King, Halton, Linnett, Minchella, Litten, Batchelor, Keinhorst, Dagger, Lewis, Hadley, Senior, Wood, Johnson, Luckley, Laulu-Togaga’e.

Predictions: Two sides who like to entertain, this could be a cracker in front of the cameras. Both sides have started their campaigns strongly, but I can see Salford just edging this one at home.

Huddersfield v Warrington (Friday, 7:45pm)

Huddersfield will feature in their first game of the 2023 season at home to Warrington this Friday. Full-back and off-season recruit Jake Connor continues with his rehab and has not been named in Ian Watson’s 21-man squad.

Matty Nicholson misses out for Warrington after sustaining a dislocated shoulder in the opening win over Leeds. Jack Darbyshire comes into the squad, alongside Matty Russell, who missed out last week due to illness.

Huddersfield: McGillvary, Marsters, Naiqama, Bibby, Lolohea, Fages, Hill, Peats, Greenwood, Jones, McQueen, Yates, Golding English, Trout, O’Brien, Wilson, Cudjoe, Livett, Russell, Pryce.

Warrington: Ashton, Bullock, Clark, Currie, Darbyshire, Drinkwater, Dufty, Harrison, Hayes, Holroyd, Kasiano, Mata’utia, Mikaele, Minikin, Ratchford, Russell, Thewlis, Vaughan, Walker, Whitehead, Williams.

Predictions: This has all the ingredients to be the match of the weekend. Warrington were red hot last week, so I’ll tip them narrowly.

Leeds v Hull (Friday, 8pm, live on Sky Sports)

Nene Macdonald could make his first Leeds appearance after being named in the 21-man squad by head coach Rohan Smith. He replaces Liam Tindall.

Tony Smith has made just one change to his squad as Harvey Barron comes in to replace Ligi Sao. Andre Savelio is named and could make his first appearances of the Super League season. Captain Carlos Tuimavave continues to miss out.

Leeds: Myler, Fusitu’a, Macdonald, Handley, Austin, Sezer, Leeming, Tetevano, Martin, Smith, O’Connor, Lisone, Olpherts, Sangara, Holroyd, McDonnell, Gannon, Walters, Roberts, Donaldson, Ruan.

Hull: Hoy, Swift, Sutcliffe, McIntosh, Clifford, Houghton, Satae, Savelio, Lane, Fash, Lovodua, Cator, Evans, Scott, McNamara, Brown, Griffin, Litten, Barron, Taylor, Dwyer.

Predictions: Leeds will want to make up for last week’s disappointing defeat at Warrington. I reckon the Rhinos to win, but there’ll only be a couple of points in it.

Wigan v Wakefield (Friday, 8pm)

Wigan boss Matt Peet has named an unchanged 21-man squad squad from his side that lost to Hull KR on Saturday.

Hooker Liam Hoot returns to Wakefield’s squad, having missed out on the opening weekend. Centre Reece Lyne drops out.

Wigan: Field, French, King, Wardle, Marshall, Cust, Smith, Singleton, Powell, Byrne, Isa, Farrell, Smithies, Cooper, Ellis, Havard, Pearce-Paul, Shorrocks, Mago, O’Neill, Miski.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Taufua, Hall, Lineham, Gaskell, Lino, Battye, Hood, Whitbread, Ashurst, Tanginoa, Pitts, Kay, Atoni, Kershaw, Proctor, Smith, Langi, Butler, Murphy, Eseh.

Predictions: The Warriors will be frustrated with last week’s opening defeat at Hull KR; and will want to put on a show for their home fans. I think Wigan will be too strong for Wakefield this week.

Catalans v Leigh (Saturday, 5pm)

Dragons coach Steve McNamara has made two changes to his side that won at Wakefield. England captain Sam Tomkins and France international Arthur Romano replace experienced pair Mitchell Pearce and Siosiua Taukeiaho.

Leigh coach Adrian Lam has named an unchanged 21-man squad to the one that lost to Salford. Ava Seumanufagai, Jacob Gannon, Aaron Smith and Ben Reynolds could feature after missing out last week.

Catalans: Mourgue, Davies, Keighran, Laguerre, McIlorum, Bousquet, Whitley, Seguier, Garcia, Goudemand, Navarrete, Rouge, Chan, Romano, Dezaria, Johnstone, Scimone, Tison, Tomkins, Castano, Zenon.

Leigh: Hardaker, Briscoe, Chamberlain, Leutele, Charnley, Lam, Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, Wardle, Hughes, Asiata, Nakubuwai, Reynolds, Holmes, O’Brien, Davis, Smith, Gannon, O’Donnell, Seumanufagai.

Predictions: It’s always hard going to Perpignan, and Leigh haven’t made that trip for a couple of years. It’s the Dragons’ first home game of 2023 too, so I’ll go with McNamara’s side by eight.

Castleford v St Helens (Sunday, 1pm, live on Channel 4)

Lee Radford has made just one change to his 21-man squad ahead of the visit of world champions St Helens. Greg Eden returns, replacing Suaia Matagi. 

Albert Vete and Muizz Mustapha could both make their official debuts for the Tigers.

Despite only returning to home soil earlier this week following their World Club Challenge victory, St Helens boss Paul Wellens has named a strong 21-man squad.

Tee Ritson is in line to make his official Super League debut with the club if selected. Will Hopoate, James Roby and Agnatius Paasi are stood down following knocks picked up in Australia. Tommy Makinson also misses out due to HIA protocols. 

Walmsley could make his 250th appearance for the club if selected.

Castleford: Evalds, Eden, Turner, Fonua, Faraimo, Widdop, Miller, Lawler, McShane, Griffin, Edwards, Mellor, Westerman, Massey, Milner, Broadbent, Vete, Mustapha, Mamo, Robb, Watts.

St Helens: Welsby, Percival, Bennison, Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Lees, Mata’utia, Knowles, Lussick, LMS, Sironen, Wingfield, Bell, Norman, Davies, Royle, Hurrell, Baxter, Ritson, Delaney.

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