Round 8 preview

27 May 2021

Thursday 27 May

Salford Red Devils v Warrington Wolves (19:45) - Sky Sports Arena & Mix

Salford will be without forward Pauli Pauli after he received a one match suspension following the Red Devils defeat against Wigan Warriors in round 7. Danny Addy and the departing Elliot Kear are also absent.

Richard Marshall could hand a Betfred Super League debut to Sam Luckley after he was included in the 21-man squad - the forward joined the Red Devil's from Newcastle Thunder during the off season and is yet to feature this year.

Steve Price has made just one change to his 21-man squad following the Wolves round 7 victory against Castleford last Saturday.

Sitaleki Akauola returns to squad having served his one match suspension last week - he replaces youngster Jacob Gannon for Thursday Night's trip to the AJ Bell.

Salford Red Devils: Morgan Escare, Ken Sio, Kallum Watkins, Joe Burgess, Tui Lolohea, Lee Mossop, Seb Ikahihifo, Ryan Lannon, Elijah Taylor, Ollie Roberts, Greg Burke, Chris Atkin, Harvey Livett, James Greenwood, Rhys Williams, Jack Ormonroyd, Jack Wells, Sam Luckley, Darcy Lussick, Dec Patton, Connor Aspey.

Warrington Wolves: Sitaleki Akauola, Blake Austin, Rob Butler, Josh Charnley, Daryl Clark, Jason Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie, Matt Davis, Chris Hill, Jack Hughes, Toby King, Tom Lineham, Jake Mamo, Robbie Mulhern, Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford, Nathan Roebuck, Josh Thewlis, Danny Walker, Gareth Widdop.

Last 10 meetings: Salford have won 7, Warrington have won 3 - the Red Devils have won the last 5 league and cup meetings between the two sides.

Friday 28 May

Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos (19:45) - Our League for season ticket holders

Prop forward Liam Watts make a welcome return to the Tigers 21-man squad after he served the last of his 2 game suspension in round 7.

Daryl Powell will be without full back Niall Evalds, Adam Milner and Lewis Bienek for Thursday's clash with Leeds - the trio are replaced by Watts, Cheyse Blair and Jacques O'Neill.

The Rhinos are unchanged following their home defeat to Hull FC on Sunday Night. Richard Agaris still without the likes of Harry Newman, Rob Lui and Cameron Smith as they go in search of their third win of the season against the Tigers.

Castleford Tigers: Derrell Olpherts, Peter Mata’utia, Michael Shenton, Jake Trueman, Danny Richardson, Liam Watts, Paul McShane, Oliver Holmes, Cheyse Blair, Nathan Massey, George Griffin, Jacques O’Neill, Tyla Hepi, James Clare, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Daniel Smith, Greg Eden, Suaia Matagi, Jordan Turner, Lewis Peachey, Brad Martin.

Leeds Rhinos: Tom Briscoe, Konrad Hurrell, Ash Handley, Luke Gale, Mikolaj Oledzki, Kruise Leeming, Matt Prior, Alex Mellor, Rhyse Martin, Zane Tetevano, Brad Dwyer, Liam Sutcliffe, Richie Myler, King Vuniyayawa, Bodene Thompson, Sam Walters, Luke Briscoe, James Donaldson, Jarrod O'Connor, Jack Broadbent, Morgan Gannon.

Last 10 meetings: Castleford have won 6, Leeds have won 4 - the last 3 meetings have been separated by 8 points or less.

St Helens v Hull FC (19:45) - Sky Sports Arena

St Helens have made just one change to their squad ahead of Friday Night's clash with Hull FC - Regan Grace misses out after failing to recover from a head knock during Saints 20-16 loss to the Dragons on Saturday.

Youngster Sam Royle comes into Kristian Woolf's 21-man squad in place of the injured Grace.

Brett Hodgson welcomes back Josh Bowden to his 21-man squad - the prop forward has been absent from the side with an elbow injury since round 4.

He replaces Connor Wynne in the squad ahead of the black and whites trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday.

St Helens: Lachlan Coote, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Joel Thompson, Morgan Knowles, Sione Mata’utia, LMS, Kyle Amor, Agnatius Paasi, Jack Welsby, Aaron Smith, Joe Batchelor, Lewis Dodd, Josh Simm, Dan Norman, Ben Davies, Sam Royle.

Hull FC: Jake Connor, Bureta Faraimo, Carlos Tuimavave, Josh Griffin, Mahe Fonua, Josh Reynolds, Marc Sneyd, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Manu Ma’u, Ligi Sao, Jordan Johnstone, Joe Cator, Jordan Lane, Brad Fash, Ben McNamara, Jack Brown, Adam Swift, Josh Bowden, Cameron Scott.

Last 10 meetings: St Helens have won 9, Hull FC have won 1 - Saints haven't lost to Hull FC since August 2017.

The best of the tries from round 7 in @Betfred #SuperLeague 💪 pic.twitter.com/8BUItF4UyE
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 26, 2021

Saturday 29 May

Catalans Dragons v Wigan Warriors (17:00 UK) - Sky Sports Arena

Alrix Da Costa and Fouad Yaha are unavailable for Steve McNamara's side on Saturday - The Dragons have named a 20-man squad whilst they wait on registration of an additional player.

Youngster César Rougé makes his first appearance in the Dragons 21-man squad for this week's clash against Wigan.

The unbeaten Warriors are forced into one change following last week's victory against Salford. Bevan French suffered a hamstring injury during the first half of Wigan's round 7 contest and is expected to miss several weeks of action.

French is replaced by captain Tommy Leuluai who returns to the 21-man squad after recovering from a sternum injury which has kept the half back sidelined since round 3.

Catalans Dragons: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Samisoni Langi, Dean Whare, James Maloney, Josh Drinkwater, Gil Dudson, Micky McIlorum, Julian Bousquet, Mike McMeeken, Benjamin Garcia, Benjamin Jullien, Mickael Goudemand, Matthieu Laguerre, Joel Tomkins, Joe Chan, Sam Kasiano, Sam Tomkins, Jordan Dezaria, César Rouge.

Wigan Warriors: Dom Manfredi, Zak Hardaker, Tommy Leuluai, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Joe Bullock, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, John Bateman, Oliver Partington, Morgan Smithies Liam Byrne, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Jake Bibby, Mitch Clark, Joe Shorrocks, Kai Pearce-Paul, Sam Halsall, Umyla Hanley, Jackson Hastings.

Last 10 meetings: Catalans have won 1, Wigan have won 9 - the Warriors have won on their last 5 visits to the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Sunday 30 May

Hull Kingston Rovers v Leigh Centurions (15:00) - Our League for season ticket holders

Korbin Sims will be available for Hull KR despite being sent off against Wakefield last week. The Robins prop forward was cleared of any wrong doing after his red card late on in the round 7 contest.

Rovers will be without fellow prop forward Albert Vete as he continues to recover from injury. Meanwhile, Dean Hadley and George King have been included in Rovers 21-man squad and will be given every chance to feature on Sunday following their injuries.

Adam Sidlow will be absent from the Leigh side for several weeks after he suffered an MCL injury against Huddersfield last week. Matty Russell, who picked up a rib injury in the same match, is also unavailable.

Leigh do welcome back half back Joe Mellor and hooker Liam Hood for Sunday's trip after the pair recovered from their respective injuries.

Hull Kingston Rovers: Adam Quinlan, Ben Crooks, Greg Minikin, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Ryan Hall, Jordan Abdull, Matt Parcell, Korbin Sims, Brad Takairangi, Kane Linnett, Dean Hadley, Jez Litten, George Lawler, George King, Matty Storton, Will Dagger, Rowan Milnes, Will Maher, Luis Johnson, Muizz Mustapha, Jimmy Keinhorst.

Leigh Centurions: Ryan Brierley, Iain Thornley, Junior Sau, Lewis Tierney, Joe Mellor, Liam Hood, Mark Ioane, Ben Hellewell, Jordan Thompson, James Bell, Matty Wildie, Nathaniel Peteru, Jamie Ellis, Matty Gee, Tyrone McCarthy, Brendan Elliot, Nathan Peats, Anthony Gelling.

Last 10 meetings: Hull KR have won 6, Leigh have won 4 - this is the first time the two sides have met in a regular season Super League fixture.

Wakefield Trinity v Huddersfield Giants (15:00) - Our League for season ticket holders

Kyle Wood is be available for Chris Chester on Sunday - the hooker has been absent from the side for the past two weeks with a calf injury and will be a welcome return to the Trinity side.

The Giants will be without forward Luke Yates for Sunday's clash with Trinity after he was handed a one-match suspension following Huddersfield's round 7 victory against Leigh.

Ian Watson has included back rower Joe Wardle in his 21-man squad for the first time this season.

Wakefield Trinity: Max Jowitt, Bill Tupou, Reece Lyne, Liam Kay, Jacob Miller, Mason Lino, David Fifita, Kyle Wood, Tinirau Arona, Matty Ashurst, Kelepi Tanginoa, Joe Westerman, Jay Pitts, Eddie Battye, James Batchelor, Chris Green, Joe Arundel, Brad Walker, Yusuf Aydin, Lee Kershaw, Josh Eaves.

Huddersfield Giants: Jermaine McGillvary, Jake Wardle, Ricky Leutele, Darnell McIntosh, Lee Gaskell, Aidan Sezer, Adam O'Brien, Michael Lawrence, Kenny Edwards, Joe Wardle, Josh Jones, Matty English, Joe Greenwood, Jack Cogger, Chris McQueen, Jack Ashworth, James Cunningham, Leroy Cudjoe, James Gavet, Owen Trout, Olly Ashall-Bott.

Last 10 meetings: Wakefield have won 6, Huddersfield have won 4 - the Giants have lost on their last 5 visits to the Mobile Rocket Stadium.

Rovers & Centurions and Trinity & Giants will meet again at Dacia Magic Weekend in September. You can experience all the magic and thrills, live in Newcastle, by purchasing tickets here.