St Helens v Wigan Warriors team news as Matt Peet makes two changes to 21-man squad
Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet has made two changes to his 21-man squad ahead of Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final clash with St Helens at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington.
The Warriors are able to welcome back senior halfback Harry Smith and versatile forward Sam Walters, both of whom have served their three-match bans picked up in the Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Wakefield Trinity last month.
However, Wigan will be without key prop Ethan Havard, who will miss the semi-final through a one-match ban he received following last Saturday’s 38-14 win over Bradford Bulls in Super League. The other player to drop out of Wigan’s 21-man squad is outside-back Josh Cartwright, who made his first-team debut last weekend, featuring from the bench.
The other players who did not feature in last week’s matchday line-up against Bradford but are included in this week’s extended squad are Tom Forber, Kian McDermott, Lukas Mason and Taylor Kerr.
As for St Helens, coach Paul Rowley has also made two changes to his squad that beat York Knights 40-16 in Super League last Friday night.
Outside-back pair Deon Cross and Lewis Murphy are both available for selection following respective injuries. Cross is good to go after following his return-to-play concussion protocols, having missed Saints’ last two games.
Murphy suffered a dislocated elbow in Saints’ win over Catalans Dragons in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, but is now able to return if selected.
However, St Helens will be without experienced winger Kyle Feldt due to head injury protocols, while cup-tied loanee Bill Leyland has returned to parent club Hull KR following his try-scoring appearance last week.
St Helens: Jack Welsby, Harry Robertson, Deon Cross, Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Shane Wright, David Klemmer, George Delaney, Matt Whitley, George Whitby, Lewis Murphy, Noah Stephens, Joe Shorrocks, Owen Dagnall, Nene Macdonald, Jake Davies, Tom Humphreys, Jackson Hastings.
Wigan: Jai Field, Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Harry Smith, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis, Sam Walters, Patrick Mago, Ollie Partington, Jack Farrimond, Sam Eseh, Tom Forber, Kian McDermott, Taylor Kerr, Lukas Mason, Noah Hodkinson, George Marsden.
The Challenge Cup semi-final takes place at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington on Saturday afternoon, 2:30pm kick-off. The game will be broadcast live on BBC One.