Saints return to Super League action away at out-of-form Hull FC

St Helens return to Super League action on Monday night as they travel to the MKM Stadium, facing a Hull FC side looking to bounce back after two successive defeats of their own.

Following their Challenge Cup Final success against Castleford Tigers at Wembley in July, Saints have been out of action in the last two rounds of Super League due to issues with Coronavirus in their camp. As per the protocols put in place surrounding the ongoing pandemic, Kristian Woolf’s men have seen games postponed, with their last league outing being a 30-14 victory against Wakefield Trinity back on July 9, prior to that cup final.

Notably, while action on the field has been sparse, off it ‘the Red V’ have been boosted by the news that head coach Woolf has agreed to extend his contract into the 2022 season after back-to-back Grand Final victories, with the potential still there for three in a row.

Having played 12 games, Saints have a win percentage of 83.33% and sit second in the Super League table. Catalans Dragons are the only team better off, winning 14 of the 15 games which they have managed to play so far this campaign. A victory at Hull would keep Woolf’s side on the French outfit’s coat-tails, if nothing else.

And after announcing the news of his new contract, the Australian had only positive things to say about his squad: “I love working with the group and they are an exceptional group of men. They work hard and their desire to win is great to be a part of.”

Meanwhile, Hull FC come into their meeting with the Saints with head coach Brett Hodgson wanting a reaction from his players following two consecutive defeats against Huddersfield Giants and more recently Leeds Rhinos.

For added incentive, Hodgson’s men will look to gain some revenge against the side who ended their own Challenge Cup efforts at the semi-final stage back in June. The incentive of keeping their spot in the Super League play-offs should be enough for the Black and Whites alone though.

At the time of writing, they sit fifth with a win percentage of just over 57%. However, the chasing pack aren’t too far behind and another few losses could see FC slip into some trouble towards the back end of this season.

Squads

St Helens’ Regan Grace will miss this encounter as well as teammate Theo Fages, who will remain sidelined for the rest of the season after breaking his shoulder at Wembley in that Challenge Cup success. However, Sione Mata’utia returns from his suspension which saw him miss out on a place in the cup final squad.

Some of Saints’ squad are still in isolation due to the aforementioned COVID outbreak at the club, and despite those missing, Woolf is still happy with those he has picked, saying “We will still come up with a strong, competitive side that we will have a lot of confidence in. It is not going to be strongest side but one we are comfortable with”

In the opposition camp, Hull have made no changes to their 21-man squad ahead of Monday night’s game. Andre Savelio remains out through suspension while key players Jake Connor, Josh Griffin, Jamie Shaul & Scott Taylor are still sidelined, some of those long-term.

Former St Helens winger Adam Swift is included, and he has been one of – if not the – biggest threat for the Black and Whites in this campaign. A 10th try of the season for the wide man came in defeat to Leeds, and another against his former employers would do just nicely for FC.

Head coach Hodgson spoke after that defeat to the Rhinos on Thursday and understands the task at hand in trying to get the better of such a successful Saints side.

He said: “We won’t wallow in this defeat tonight because we’re not far off. We know how we can get better and what we need to do in terms of being more resilient. It doesn’t get any easier against St Helens but we have to go into the match with belief”.

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