St Helens prop ruled out of Challenge Cup final

Drew Darbyshire

St Helens prop Matty Lees is set to miss Saturday’s Challenge Cup final through injury.

The 21-year-old suffered a “serious abdominal” in last Thursday’s 36-20 win over Leeds at Emerald Headingley.

Lees has played 23 games for Saints this year but he will not feature at Wembley on Saturday.

St Helens coach Justin Holbrook said: “Unfortunately he got a serious injury that we didn’t know about at the time.

“After the game we thought he just got a knock on the hip, but by the time I came back from the press conference he was in a bad way and had to be taken to hospital and had surgery on his abdominal, bowel area which is not good for anyone.

“He plays as tough as anyone so he is obviously not going to be right over the next few weeks at least.

“I am not too sure on the time frame of it, but our thoughts are with him, knowing how disappointing the timing is.”

St Helens will welcome full-back Lachlan Coote and prop Alex Walmsley back on Saturday though.


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