Round 27 Preview
29 Aug 2019
Thursday: Salford Red Devils vs Warrington Wolves (Live on Sky Sports, 7:45PM)
Salford Red Devils are currently top of the form table, while Warrington are bottom, they’ll be hoping there’s no Challenge Cup hangover with both sides in need of a win to keep their hopes of reaching the playoffs.
Steve Price has made multiple changes from his Challenge Cup winning squad, Mike Cooper, Chris Hill, Toby King and Dec Patton are replaced by Luther Burrell, Matty Smith, Lama Tasi and Danny Walker.
Stefan Ratchford could make his 350th career appearance, over 200 of those appearances have come for Warrington, the others at Salford Red Devils, England Knights and England.
Jack Hughes has surpassed 100 Warrington appearances this season, he’s set to make his 200th Super League appearance. Jason Clark made 170 appearances for South Sydney Rabbitohs; he’ll make his 200th career appearance if he plays on Thursday.
Salford highest score: 48-24 (H, 2012) (Widest margin: 37-4, A, 1998)
Warrington highest score: 68-16 (MM, 2010); 68-10 (H, 2013) (Widest margin: 60-0, A, 2011)
What to do when being tackled? Produce a ridiculous assist with the boot 🔥🔥🎯@JackoHastings' assist for @krisnan_inu when @SalfordDevils beat Warrington in round 22 😲🤯 pic.twitter.com/zGpHigHEQ3
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 29, 2019
Friday: Hull FC vs Huddersfield Giants (7:45PM)
Hull FC announced that Sika Manu will retire at the end of the season, the former Tongan captain is back in the FC squad after missing their last game with a calf strain.
Flying winger Ratu Naulago misses out after picking up a minor injury, Kieran Buchanan comes into the squad.
Huddersfield Giants have named Chester Butler, Jon Luke Kirby and Paul Clough in their 19-man squad.
Danny Houghton is set to make his 350th career appearance, he’s made three of those for England Knights, the rest have come at club level for Hull FC.
Carlos Tuimavave is set to reach a century of appearances for Hull FC on Friday night, he’ll come up against Huddersfield’s Lee Gaskell who could make his 150th Super League appearance.
Hull FC highest score: 48-8 (A, 2017) (also widest margin)
Huddersfield highest score: 76-18 (H, 2013 PSF) (also widest margin)
Friday: St Helens vs Castleford Tigers (Live on Sky Sports, 7:45PM)
Lachlan Coote misses out due to concussion protocol, Justin Holbrook will also be without Dom Peyroux, Matty Lees and Aaron Smith who is serving a two-match ban.
Liam Watts comes into the Castleford Tigers squad alongside Calum Turner, they replace Cory Aston and Tuoyo Egodo.
Castleford are seeking their first summer era away win at St Helens (and first 'road' victory in 32 games overall).
In the 15 visits they made to Knowsley Road between 1996 and 2010, the Tigers were defeated on 14 occasions.
Castleford's last win at St Helens was 12-8 in the third round of the Regal Trophy on 19 December 1992. Their last league win was 29-16 on 21 October 1990.
Saints’ star loose forward Morgan Knowles could make his 100th Super League appearance, Man of Steel contender Jonny Lomax is two tries away from 100 Super League tries.
Castleford’s Grant Millington has made 199 Super League appearances, he could make his 200th for Castleford on Friday.
St Helens highest score: 72-4 (A, 2006) (also widest margin)
Castleford highest score: 36-22 (H, 2002) (Widest margin: 35-16, H, 1997)
Saturday: Catalans Dragons vs Hull KR (Live on Sky Sports, 5PM)
Both Catalans Dragons and Hull KR have lost their last two games, with both teams with something to play for, Catalans need two points in their hopes to reach the playoffs while KR desperately need two points in their fight for survival.
Catalans’ Matt Whitley and KR’s Mose Masoe are both one appearance away from reaching a century of Super League appearances, while Danny McGuire needs nine points to reach 1,000 Super League points.
Catalans Dragons highest score: 56-6 (H, 2011 EPO) (also widest margin)
Hull KR highest score: 50-20 (H, 2015) (Widest margin: 44-10, H, 2009)
2017 semi-finals, Golden Point extra time, it had to be the 2017 #ManOfSteel @snozzer_gale 🎯???
SCENES 🤯 #SLStHCas pic.twitter.com/yNk9C03XpZ
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 28, 2019
Sunday: London Broncos vs Leeds Rhinos (3PM)
The battle for survival is in motion, five teams have only two points separating them, both Leeds Rhinos and London Broncos are desperately aiming to avoid the drop.
Leeds are currently in eighth position due to their superior points difference, a win for Leeds would make it a more relaxing last two games, although, mathematically they could still be relegated if they lose their last two games.
Rhinos’ Brett Ferres needs one try to reach 100 for his career, 15 of those tries have come for Leeds since 2016.
London Broncos highest score: 40-16 (H, 1997); 40-36 (H, 2014) (Widest margin: 40-16, H, 1997)
Leeds highest score: 64-6 (H, 2005) (Widest margin: 60-0, A, 2006)
Sunday: Wakefield Trinity vs Wigan Warriors (3PM)
Wigan Warriors currently sit in third place on 30 points, Warrington and Hull FC are level on points with them as they all aim to be in the playoffs at the end of the season.
Wakefield Trinity have found themselves slipping into the relegation battle, they’re currently two points in front of London.
Zak Hardaker could make his 250th career appearance on Sunday, he made over 150 appearances for Leeds Rhinos, he’s made 26 since joining Wigan.
Wakefield highest score: 62-0 (H, 2016) (also widest margin)
Wigan highest score: 60-24 (A, 1999); 60-12 (H, S8, 2016) (Widest margin: 56-6, A, 2000)
