Squad watch: Super League Round 20 team news, including TV coverage & predictions

Super League returns following last weekend’s thrilling Challenge Cup semi-finals, with three Round 20 games to be shown live on TV.

Huddersfield Giants v Hull FC (Friday, 8pm, Sky Sports Arena)

Theo Fages in action for Huddersfield Giants

The Giants welcome back half-back Theo Fages and Sebastine Ikahihifo to the squad after spells on the sidelines, with Will Pryce and Jack Ashworth dropping out of Ian Watson’s side.

Hull coach Tony Smith has made two changes to the squad that was named ahead of their clash with Castleford a fortnight ago, with young forwards Will Gardiner and Zach Jebson replacing Carlos Tuimavave (hamstring) and Jamie Shaul (calf).

Huddersfield: Connor, McGillvary, Marsters, Naiqama, Bibby, Lolohea, Fages, Hill, Peats, Greenwood, McQueen, Yates, Golding, English, Ikahihifo, Wilson, Cudjoe, Russell, Halsall, Hewitt, Milner.

Hull: Swift, Sutcliffe, McIntosh, Trueman, Clifford, Sao, Houghton, Satae, Savelio, Lane, Fash, Lovodua, Cator, Scott, Brown, Litten, Barron, Gardiner, Taylor, Dwyer, Jebson.

Prediction: Tough one to call, this. I’ll go home advantage – Huddersfield by 8.

Hull KR v Castleford Tigers (Friday, 8pm)

Jack Walker in action for Hull KR

Willie Peters has made just one change to his side that won in the Challenge Cup semi-finals last weekend. Full-back Jack Walker replaces experienced winger Ryan Hall, who misses out with a calf injury.

Greece international Billy Tsikrikas could make his Castleford debut after linking up with the club last week. Alex Foster, a familiar face to Cas fans, is in line to make his second debut for the Tigers.

Andy Last also welcomes back Greg Eden, Nathan Massey, Suaia Matagi and George Lawler into his squad for Friday’s trip to Craven Park.

Hull KR: Ryan, Opacic, Kenny-Dowall, Parcell, King, Linnett, Minchella, Litten, Kennedy, Batchelor, Storton, Keinhorst, Lewis, Milnes, Senior, Johnson, Luckley. Aydin, Walker, Schneider, Gorman.

Castleford: Eden, Miller, Lawler, Griffin, Edwards, Mellor, Westerman, Massey, Sutcliffe, Broadbent, Mustapha, Matagi, Wallis, Hall, Qareqare, Watts, Tate, Dean, Johnstone, Foster, Tsikrikas.

Prediction: Castleford will be feeling fresh after having last weekend off, with the introduction of a couple of new signings. But I just feel Challenge Cup finalists Hull KR will be too strong – Robins by 12.

St Helens v Leeds Rhinos (Friday, 8pm, Sky Sports Action)

Moses Mbye has joined St Helens on a deal until the end of the 2025 season

St Helens are without several first-team regulars for Friday’s game against Leeds, with front-rowers Alex Walmsley and Agnatius Paasi suffering season-ending injuries.

Paul Wellens’ side are also without Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jon Bennison, Curtis Sironen and Joe Batchelor this weekend.

New signing Moses Mbye could make his Super League debut for St Helens after arriving from NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons.

Meanwhile, the Rhinos are boosted by the return of versatile forward James Donaldson after passing his return to play protocols. Donaldson will make his 100th appearance for Leeds if selected by head coach Rohan Smith.

Leeds: Myler, Fusitu’a, Macdonald, Handley, Austin, Sezer, Oledzki, Bentley, Martin, Smith, O’Connor, Lisone, Sangare, Holroyd, McDonnell, Hooley, Walters, Roberts, Donaldson, Johnson, Ruan.

Prediction: Saints are down on troops, mainly in the pack, and Leeds will fancy their chances in this one. But it’d be foolish to write off the Saints, so I’ll tip the hosts by 7…

Wigan Warriors v Leigh Leopards (Saturday, 1pm, Channel 4)

Tyler Dupree has joined Wigan Warriors on a four-year deal

Wigan coach Matt Peet has confirmed that new signing Tyler Dupree will make his debut for the club on Saturday.

Peet has made three changes to his 21-man squad, with Dupree, Iain Thornley and youngster Jacob Douglas coming into the squad, replacing Willie Isa (pectoral injury), Joe Shorrocks (suspension) and Brad Singleton, who has joined Salford.

Leigh will be without star hooker Edwin Ipape this weekend after the Papua New Guinea international received a one-match ban following last weekend’s Challenge Cup semi-final victory over St Helens. Hooker Aaron Smith could come back into Adrian Lam’s side.

Wigan: Field, French, King, Wardle, Marshall, Cust, Smith, Byrne, Farrell, Smithies, Ellis, Pearce-Paul, Mago, Thornley, O’Neill, Miski, Hill, Nsemba, Douglas, Hampshire, Dupree.

Leigh: Hardaker, Briscoe, Chamberlain, Charnley, Mellor, Lam, Amone, Mulhern, Wardle, Hughes, Asiata, Nakubuwai, Reynolds, Holmes, O’Brien, Davis, Smith, Wilde, Seumanufagai.

Prediction: Leigh will be full of confidence after last week’s Challenge Cup triumph, but I’m going to go with hosts Wigan to bounce back from their semi-final heartache. Warriors by 4.

Catalans Dragons v Salford Red Devils (Saturday, 6pm)

Ollie Partington in action for Salford Red Devils

Catalans coach Steve McNamara has named an unchanged 21-man squad from their win over St Helens two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils will be without England international half-back Marc Sneyd and Samoan centre Tim Lafai for the trip to Perpignan.

James Greenwood, Matty Costello, Rhys Williams, Alex Gerrard and Ollie Partington could feature for Salford having not played in their last outing against Leigh a fortnight ago.

Catalans: Davies, Keighran, May, Pearce, McMeeken, McIlorum, Bousquet, Whitley, Seguier, Garcia, Da Costa, Goudemand, Navarrete, Chan, Romano, Ikuvalu, Dezaria, Johnstone, Ma’u, Tomkins, Zenon.

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Burgess, Croft, Ormondroyd, Ackers, Vuniyayawa, Dixon, Stone, Partington, Atkin, Gerrard, Sidlow, Bourouh, Williams, Costello, Hellewell, Greenwood, Cross.

Prediction: Salford are missing a couple of key players and Catalan are hard to beat on home turf, so I’ll go with the Dragons by 10.

Wakefield Trinity v Warrington Wolves (Sunday, 3pm)

George Williams scoring a try for Warrington Wolves

Speaking in his press conference earlier in the week, Wakefield boss Mark Applegarth said that he was hopeful of half-back Luke Gale playing a part on Sunday. However, Trinity will again be without key forward Jai Whitbread.

Warrington could welcome back five players for Sunday’s trip to Belle Vue – George Williams, Connor Wrench, Matty Ashton, Josh Thewlis and Matty Nicholson.

Daryl Powell’s side will be without England international James Harrison for a couple of weeks with a finger injury.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Lyne, Lineham, Lino, Battye, Hood, Ashurst, Pitts, Kay, Bowden, Atoni, Kershaw, Proctor, Langi, Bowes, Eseh, Dagger, Senior, Gale, Croft, Fifita.

Warrington: Ashton, Bullock, Clark, Currie, Drinkwater, Dudson, Dufty, Hayes, Holroyd, Kasiano, Mata’utia, Minikin, Nicholson, Philbin, Ratchford, Thewlis, Thomas, Vaughan, Walker, Williams, Wrench.

Prediction: Warrington are boosted by the return of a couple of key players, so I’ll tip them by 12.

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