Round 9 preview

10 Jun 2021

Round 9 preview

Round 9 fixtures Leeds Rhinos v St Helens and Huddersfield Giants v Wigan Warriors (both scheduled for Friday Night) have been postponed due to Covid-19.

As part of this year’s #TackleTheToughStuff campaign, Round 9 has been dedicated to Rainbow Laces in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Launched in 2015, the Rainbow Laces campaign has reached over 1 million LGBTQ+ people and allies in the aim of ensuring sport is everyone’s game. Betfred Super League wholeheartedly believes that inclusion and equality shouldn’t be a vision, but an uncompromised reality, and we are proud to get behind such a worthy campaign.  

Thursday 10 June

Castleford Tigers v Hull FC (19.45) - Sky Sports Action and YouTube channel

Daryl Powell makes 5 changes to his 21-man squad following the Tigers semi-final Challenge Cup win against Warrington last weekend. 

Niall Evalds, Jake Trueman, Cheyse Blair, Daniel Smith, and Gareth O’Brien all drop out of the squad for Thursday's clash with Hull FC. They are replaced by Danny Richardson, George Griffin, Lewis Bienek, Lewis Peachey, and Brad Graham.

Hull FC have made just one change to their 21-man squad after falling short in their Challenge Cup semi-final against St Helens. 

Josh Griffin, who suffered a season-ending achilles injury last Saturday, is replaced by Mitieli Vulikijapani who has been recalled from his loan spell at Bradford Bulls. The black and whites are also without Joe Cator who played in their last Betfred Super League fixture in round 8. 

Castleford Tigers and Hull FC go head-to-head live on Sky Sports YouTube channel. You can watch the game, for free, here.

Castleford Tigers: Derrell Olpherts, Peter Mata’utia, Michael Shenton, Danny Richardson, Liam Watts, Paul McShane, Oliver Holmes, Adam Milner, Nathan Massey, George Griffin, Alex Foster, Jacques O’Neill, Tyla Hepi, James Clare, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Suaia Matagi, Jordan Turner, Lewis Bienek, Lewis Peachey, Brad Martin, Brad Graham.

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

Last 10 meetings: Castleford have won 4, Hull FC have won 6 - the black and whites have won the last 3 meetings between the 2 sides.


Friday 11 June

Hull Kingston Rovers v Salford Red Devils (19.45) - Sky Sports Main Event & Arena

Hull KR welcome back George King to their 21-man squad after the prop recovered from an injury which has kept him out of the side since the Robins round 6 victory against Castleford.

Mikey Lewis, who has been on loan at Championship side York City Knights, is also included in Tony Smith's 21-man squad after being recalled earlier this week. 

Salford Red Devils could hand a debut to off-season signing Joe Burgess - the former Warriors winger is yet to feature this season due to injury but is again included in Richard Marshall's 21-man squad.

Marshall will buoyed by the return of first choice hooker Andy Ackers who returns from injury, and back-rower Pauli Pauli who served a one-match suspension in round 8. 

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, Mikey Lewis, Rowan Milnes, Will Maher, Luis Johnson, Muizz Mustapha, Jimmy Keinhorst.

Salford Red Devils: Morgan Escare, Ken Sio, Joe Burgess, Tui Lolohea, Lee Mossop, Andy Ackers, Seb Ikahihifo, Ryan Lannon, Pauli Pauli, Elijah Taylor, Ollie Roberts, Greg Burke, Josh Johnson, Chris Atkin, Harvey Livett, Rhys Williams, Jack Ormonroyd, Jack Wells, Sam Luckley, Ben Davies. 

Last 10 meetings: Hull KR have won 4, Salford have won 6 - Rovers have won 3 of the last 4 meetings between the 2 sides. 

Warrington Wolves v Wakefield Trinity (19.45) - OurLeague for season ticket holders

The Wolves will be hoping to bounce back after being knocked out of the Challenge Cup last weekend. There are no major changes to Steve Price's side following their last Betfred Super League game in round 8 - Jason Clark is unavailable through injury and is replaced by Ellis Longstaff. 

Trinity are unchanged following their third consecutive league win against Leigh last week. 

Tom Johnstone is once again named in the 21-man squad following his recovery from concussion and could feature for Trinity against the Wolves on Friday Night. 

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

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

Last 10 meetings: Warrington have won 8, Wakefield have won 2 - the Wolves have won their last 7 home meetings against Trinity - Trinity last won away at Warrington in July 2014.

Saturday 12 June

Leigh Centurions v Catalans Dragons (15.00) - Leigh Sports Village

The Centurions welcome back some much needed fire power in the middle with the return of Nathan Mason and Nathaniel Peteru to their 21-man squad.

Matty Russell also returns to the squad after recovering from injury whilst Ben Reynolds is included following his one-match suspension.

Steve McNamara has made 4 changes to his 21-man squad for the Dragons round 9 trip to Leigh. Fouad Yaha, Paul Seguier, Lambert Belmas and Jason Baitieri are the players brought into the Dragons squad.

They replace the suspended Joel Tomkins, Gil Dudson, Corentin Le Cam and Jordan Dezaria. 

Leigh Centurions: Ryan Brierley, Matty Russell, Iain Thornley, Junior Sa’u, Lewis Tierney, Joe Mellor, Liam Hood, Mark Ioane, Ben Hellewell, James Bell, Matty Wildie, Nathaniel Peteru, Jamie Ellis, Matty Gee, Nathan Mason, Tyrone McCarthy, Craig Mullen, Brendan Elliot, Nathan Peats, Ben Reynolds.

Catalans Dragons: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Samisoni Langi, Dean Whare, Fouad Yaha, James Maloney, Josh Drinkwater, Micky McIlorum, Julian Bousquet, Mike McMeeken, Benjamin Garcia, Benjamin Jullien, Paul Seguier, Mickael Goudemand, Lambert Belmas, Matthieu Laguerre, Jason Baitieri, Joe Chan, Sam Kasiano, Sam Tomkins, César Rouge. 

All previous meetings: Leigh have won 1, Catalans have won 4 - the Centurions are yet to beat the Dragons in a regular season Betfred Super League game.