St Helens v Hull FC preview
Gareth Ellis, Mark Minichiello, Carlos Tuimavave and Jansin Turgut are all back in the Hull FC squad for the trip to St Helens
Captain Ellis returns from suspension whilst Minichiello, who missed out through injury last week despite being named in the squad to face Catalans Dragons, also comes back into the fold.
They will provide a much-needed boost for head coach Lee Radford, who is without Frank Pritchard and Sika Manu. Both back-rowers are away on international duty.
Carlos Tuimavave could make his first appearance since Hull’s 17-16 away win against Saints in April, having overcome a groin injury, whilst youngster Jansin Turgut is also included.
Dean Hadley is the other change from last week’s squad, with the Hull-born second-row forward coming into the side at the last minute against Catalans to replace Minichiello.
Kieron Cunningham says "We just had to keep believing in what we were doing (at Cas) because in the first half we weren't that far short," hie said. "We played against a resilient Cas side that came off a heavy scoreline the week before. We knew they would come out fighting and they did that.
"We weren't as clinical as we could have been in the first half. We had plenty of opportunities to put them to the sword but Cas being Cas, they scored points.
"We knew we would get our shot though and in the second half we were the better team.
"We got out to a lead with 15 to go and defended it. They had a lot of opportunities on our line and the lads just defended well and kept on fighting. Then we sealed the game with a try.
"They scored three tries from kicks but only broke our system once. We have to get that escort better on the edges for kicks and if we do that then we won't be far short.
"Good sides win games by defending leads no matter what sides chuck at them."
St Helens (from): Lomax, Turner, Percival, Walsh, Walmsley, Roby, Amor, Vea, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Tasi, Richards, Peyroux, Fages, Greenwood, Dawson, Owens, McDonnell, Knowles.
Hull FC (from): Bowden, Ellis, Fonua, Green, Hadley, Houghton, Minichiello, Naughton, Pryce, Shaul, Sneyd, Talanoa, Taylor, Thompson, Tuimavave, Turgut, Washbrook, Watts, Yeaman.
