Squad watch: Super League Round 25 team news, including TV coverage & predictions

It’s Round 25 of Super League action this weekend, with three games being shown live on Sky Sports and Channel 4.

Wakefield Trinity v Catalans Dragons (Friday, 7:30pm)

Tom Johnstone in action Catalans Dragons

Wakefield have been bolstered by the returns of key trio Max Jowitt, Jai Whitbread and Kelepi Tanginoa. The trio come in for Will Dagger, Romain Franco and Hugo Salabio.

Catalans are boosted by the return of in-form winger Tom Johnstone, whilst half-back Cesar Rouge comes back into the squad. The duo replace Matthieu Laguerre and Tyrone May.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Lineham, Lino, Battye, Hood, Whitbread, Ashurst, Tanginoa, Pitts, Kay, Bowden, Atoni, Kershaw, Proctor, Bowes, Eseh, Senior, Gale, Croft, Fifita, Griffin.

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

Prediction: A huge game for Wakefield in their fight for Super League survival – but Catalans have been great to watch this year. The Dragons need to bounce back after two straight defeats, so I’ll tip them by 8.

Huddersfield Giants v Hull Kingston Rovers (Friday, 7:45pm)

Jordan Abdull in action for Hull KR

Huddersfield have recalled hooker Adam O’Brien from his loan at Championship club Halifax and he goes straight back into Ian Watson’s 21-man squad. Veteran winger Jermaine McGillvary also returns for the Giants.

Hull KR will be without key forward Elliot Minchella on Friday due to concussion protocol, whilst James Batchelor is sidelined with a minor elbow injury that requires surgery.

Willie Peters’ side are boosted by the return of key half-back Jordan Abdull, who has been named in the 21-man squad after almost three months on the sidelines with a quad injury.

Huddersfield: Connor, McGillvary, Marsters, Naiqama, Bibby, Lolohea, Hill, Peats, Greenwood, McQueen, Yates, English, Ikahihifo, O’Brien, Wilson, Cudjoe, Livett, Halsall, Ashworth, Hewitt, Pryce.

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

Prediction: Hull KR have enjoyed two good wins against Leigh and Catalans in recent weeks, and I think they’ll make it three wins on the bounce this week. KR by 8.

Castleford Tigers v Hull FC (Friday, 8pm)

Carlos Tuimavave in action for Hull FC

Castleford coach Danny Ward has been forced to make three changes to his squad. Charbel Tasipale (hamstring), George Lawler (HIA) and Sam Hall (HIA) are all ruled out, with half-back Jacob Miller suspended.

Cain Robb has been recalled from his loan at Swinton, whilst Jack Broadbent and Nathan Massey are back in contention following injury. Experienced prop Liam Watts also returns after completing his suspension.

Hull FC have also made three changes. Jake Clifford has picked up a one-match ban, whilst Jamie Shaul and Cobie Wainhouse drop out of the 21.

Carlos Tuimavave is back after serving his ban, with Darnell McIntosh (hand) and Davy Litten (back) both available again.

Castleford: Eden, Turner, Widdop, Griffin, Edwards, Mellor, Westerman, Massey, Broadbent, Mustapha, Matagi, Robb, Martin, Wallis, Hookem, Qareqare, Watts, Johnstone, Foster, Tsikrikas, Austin.

Hull: Hoy, Swift, Tuimavave, Sutcliffe, McIntosh, Houghton, Satae, Savelio, Lane, Fash, Lovodua, Cator, Scott, Brown, Litten, Barron, Gardiner, Taylor, Staveley, Dwyer, Jebson.

Prediction: A huge game for Castleford in their last home game of the season. I’ll tip the Tigers by 4.

St Helens v Leigh Leopards (Friday, 8pm, Sky Sports Mix)

St Helens powerhouse Konrad Hurrell breaks through the line against Wakefield

St Helens will be without powerhouse centre Konrad Hurrell after the Tonga international suffered a recurring calf injury in Sunday’s win at Wakefield.

Ireland international prop Dan Norman has also been ruled out of this weekend’s clash with Leigh due to concussion protocol. Young players Wesley Bruines and Matty Foster come in Paul Wellens’ side.

Speaking in his press conference earlier this week, Leigh coach Adrian Lam said that winger Josh Charnley and captain John Asiata are nursing ‘niggling injuries’ and would be assessed closer to the game as to whether they play or not.

Ava Seumanufagai, Ed Chamerlain, Matt Davis and Oliver Holmes – who didn’t play in last week’s win over Huddersfield – are included in Leigh’s 21-man squad.

St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Percival, Bennison, Lomax, Dodd, Roby, Lees, Mata’utia, Batchelor, Knowles, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Bell, Davies, Royle, Baxter, Ritson, Foster, Delaney, Bruines, Mbye.

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

Prediction: St Helens are hitting their straps at the right time having won their last six games. It’ll be close, but I think the hosts will edge it by 4.

Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors (Saturday. 2:45pm, Sky Sports Mix)

Tyler Dupree in action for Wigan Warriors

Leeds coach Rohan Smith has called up Riley Lumb to his 21-man squad for the first time, with the youngster linking up with the Rhinos first team ahead of this season.

The Rhinos are still without half-back Aidan Sezer and James Bentley due to the concussion protocols. There is no Nene Macdonald in the squad, with the Papua New Guinea international still in Australia following the birth of his child.

Wigan are boosted by the return of Tyler Dupree, with the England international back available following concussion protocols.

Leeds: Fusitu’a, Newman, Handley, Oledzki, Martin, Smith, O’Connor, Lisone, Olpherts, Holroyd, McDonnell, Gannon, Hooley, Walters, Tindall, Donaldson, Johnson, Sinfield, Ruan, Edgell, Lumb.

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

Prediction: Wigan are hitting form at the right time and have their eyes on the League Leaders’ Shield, so I’ll tip the Warriors by 12.

Salford Red Devils v Warrington Wolves (Sunday, 12:45pm, Channel 4)

Matty Russell on the charge for Warrington Wolves

Salford will be without key duo Kallum Watkins and Ollie Partington to suspension.

Adam Sidlow, Andrew Dixon, Amir Bourouh, Matty Costello and James Greenwood – who didn’t play in last week’s defeat at Wigan – could feature after being named in Paul Rowley’s 20-man squad.

Warrington interim head coach Gary Chambers has made one change to his side that thrashed Castleford last time out. Scotland winger Matty Russell replaces Wales prop Luke Thomas.

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Ormondroyd, Ackers, Vuniyayawa, Dixon, Stone, Atkin, Addy, Sidlow, Bourouh, Costello, Hellewell, Greenwood, Cross, Singleton.

Warrington: Ashton, Clark, Crowther, Currie, Drinkwater, Dudson, Dufty, Harrison, Hayes, Kasiano, Mata’utia, Mikaele, Nicholson, Philbin, Ratchford, Russell, Thewlis, Vaughan, Walker, Williams, Wrench.

Prediction: A huge game for both teams who are vying for a spot in the play-offs. Warrington are high on confidence following their last two wins, so I’ll tip the Wolves by 2.

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