Round 18 Preview

Find out about Round 18's match-ups!

Thursday: Castleford Tigers vs Hull FC (Live on Sky Sports, 19:45)

Castleford Tigers will host Hull FC, who have been consistently inconsistent this season, however, they currently sit two points ahead of Tigers in fourth place. Last week, they beat Salford Red Devils 35-32, a lead that nearly slipped away in the dying minutes of the game. Scott Taylor, Kieran Buchanan and Jack Brown all come into the squad. 

Castleford Tigers thanked full-back Pete Mata’utia for their victory against Huddersfield Giants, the game went to Golden Point and it was Mata’utia who scored the winning drop goal. Jesse Sene-Lefao returns to the 19-man squad after returning from compassionate leave.

Castleford highest score: 44-16 (H, 1999) (Widest margin: 30-2, A, 1999; 44-16, H, 1999)

Hull FC highest score: 52-18 (A, 2004); 52-0 (H, 2013) (Widest margin: 52-0, H, 2013)

Friday: Leeds Rhinos vs Wigan Warriors (Live on Sky Sports, 19:45)

Leeds Rhinos have won two games in a row both games have been live on Sky Sports, and they will be looking for another two points in front of the Sky cameras on Friday night. Kallum Watkins was moved into the pack with Konrad Hurrell partnering youngster Harry Newman. 

Wigan Warriors beat Hull KR in Round 17, a drop goal with minutes remaining by Sam Powell was enough for Wigan who are only four points outside of the play-offs. 

Leeds highest score: 70-0 (H, 2005) (also widest margin)

Wigan highest score: 68-14 (H, 1996) (also widest margin)

Friday: St Helens vs Huddersfield Giants (19:45)

Saints will need to bounce back from their shock defeat at the hands of bottom of the table side London Broncos. Saints lost 23-22 to a Morgan Smith drop goal in Golden Point time. Tommy Makinson is one appearance away from making 200 Super League appearances. 

Huddersfield were the victim of a Pete Mata’utia drop goal, after an impressive display at Magic Weekend, Giants will take plenty of confidence from their performance in Castleford. 

St Helens highest score: 68-18 (H, 1998) (Widest margin: 66-4, H, 2018)

Huddersfield highest score: 48-20 (MW, 2016) (Widest margin: 40-4, A, 2013)

Saturday: Hull KR vs Warrington Wolves (15:00)

Hull KR, like Saints and Huddersfield fell victim to a drop goal, KR were tied at 18-18 with minutes remaining, but Sam Powell stepped up for Wigan to steal the two points. Tony Smith will coach against the club he left in 2017.  Danny McGuire is ten points away from reaching 1,000 Super League appearances. 

Warrington will come off the back of a convincing second-half performance against Catalans, they won 34-4. Their star man Blake Austin is currently top of the leader board, and new signing Luther Burrell is not eligible to play until July.

Hull KR highest score: 40-16 (H, 2009) (Widest margin: 36-10, H, 2015)

Warrington highest score: 60-20 (A, 2007) (Widest margin: 54-6, A, 2019)

Saturday: Catalans Dragons vs London Broncos (Live on Sky Sports, 18:00)

London Broncos will travel to Perpignan full of confidence after their shock victory at the Trailfinders Sports Club against top of the table side St Helens. Morgan Smith scored the winning drop goal in Golden Point. 

Catalans will take the positives from the first-half at Warrington but will want to rectify a poor second-half display with a victory at home in the south of France.  

Catalans Dragons highest score: 48-22 (H, 2011) (Widest margin: 46-4, H, 2014)

London Broncos highest score: 38-16 (A, 2007) (Widest margin: 36-14, H, 2006; 38-16, A, 2007)

Sunday: Salford Red Devils vs Wakefield Trinity (15:00)

Junior Sa’u and Pauli Pauli swap loan-deal is over, and the two players could play against each other and the team they have just spent a month at on Sunday. Both teams come off the back off losses with Salford losing by three to Hull and Wakefield losing by ten against Leeds.

Salford highest score: 48-10 (H, 2006) (also widest margin)

Wakefield highest score: 46-18 (H, 2004); 46-10 (A, 2013) (Widest margin: 46-10, A, 2013; 42-6, H, 2014)