Following a week’s break for the Challenge Cup semi-final, Super League kicks off again this week as Catalan Dragons head to the Totally Wicked Stadium to face St Helens.
And for both teams, the fixture is a chance of vindication following the Dragons’ exit from the Challenge Cup on Saturday, May 10.
They suffered a crushing loss to Hull KR, who cruised to a comfortable victory of 36-12 at York’s LNER Stadium.
Head coach Steve McNamara acknowledged the prowess of the Hull side but aired his frustrations about Catalans’ lack of penalties or set restarts.
Meanwhile the Merseyside team will also be keen to make up for their Magic Weekend loss against Leeds which saw their fans boo them off at halftime.
But why is this game so pivotal to the Saints?
Keep reading to find out.
St. Helens hope to break their losing streak
Fans were upset as the Saints trailed behind 10-0 and were disappointed as the team came away from St James’ Park with a final score of 17-4 against the Rhinos.
The defeat is the fourth one on the bounce, and the sixth in nine games overseen by head coach Paul Wellens.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Wellens acknowledged his side’s poor performance and showed his outrage at Lewis Murphy’s “ridiculous” yellow card.
The winger’s sin-bin spell came after he caught Alfie Edgell in the face with his knee in a high leap for the ball.
But the head coach felt there was a lack of consistency with what was a penalty and what was an “accidental rugby injury.”
Both teams remain tied on 10 points, along with Wakefield and Warrington.
But thanks to St. Helens’ large points difference (largely from their round 1 meeting with a Salford team made almost entirely of reserves) they lead the charge from 6th.
Saints will be keen to hold onto the final playoff spot and claim their first win in 5 games.
St Helens’ head coach exit rumours swirl
The game comes amid growing rumours of Wellens’ exit due to the club’s poor performances.
Australian columnist Peter Lang has suggested Penrith Panthers assistant coach Ben Gardiner – who has coached across the NRL and Samoa – could be lined up to replace him.
Wellens will be looking to secure a win to reinforce his position and silence the growing calls for his removal from fans.
They have an advantage over the travelling French side, who remained in the UK after their Magic Weekend fixture in preparation of their Challenge Cup fixture the following week.
The red and whites were knocked out of the cup in the last round by Warrington and have had an extra week to prepare to meet the Dragons.
Wellens appears confident in his team, naming the same 21-man squad as his Magic Weekend outing, save for one swap.
Hooker Jake Burns replaces Dayon Sambou in the line-up.
The 24-year-old has made just one appearance this season in round three of the Challenge Cup against the amateur West Hull team.
The team is still missing two key players in the form of forward Joe Batchelor and full-back Harry Robertson.
Both players remain out due to injury, but St Helens may benefit from a weaker Dragons squad.
Catalan to bring a weaker side to Totally Wicked Stadium
The Saints’ victory chances may be improved by the French side’s recent injury and suspension blows.
Full-back Sam Tomkins, skipper Ben Garcia and prop Julian Bousquet will all miss the meeting due to injury.
Tomkins, who had remained with the squad after Magic Weekend, flew back to Montpellier to see a specialist regarding a knee infection and missed the semi-final.
The 36-year-old has made just five appearances this year, with three of them being Challenge Cup fixtures.
Garcia was forced to withdraw during the Magic Weekend meeting with Leigh Leopards, which saw the Perpignan side’s win streak come to a halt.
But it isn’t just injuries that will be hampering the French team.
Elliot Whitehead will miss out after being handed a Grade B head contact sanction from the meeting with Leigh Leopards, adding three penalty points and taking him over the threshold for a one-match ban.
The team will be out for revenge following their one-point loss at home back in March – their first home loss against the Saints since 2018.
A win against St Helens would land them back in the play-off positions, provided Wakefield Trinity aren’t able to beat Warrington on Sunday, May 18.
