It’s back to the Betfred Super League for Salford Red Devils this week as they travel down to the Totally Wicked Stadium to face St Helens on Friday 17 May (kick-off 7:45PM).
Last time out
It was a disappointing end to Salford’s Coral Challenge Cup run last Saturday as Salford suffered a 18-32 loss in the sixth-round at the The Salford Stadium.
The Red Devils were in the lead into the break after Kane Linnett opened the scoring for the visitors; Krisnan Inu, Niall Evalds and Kris Welham soon responded to bring the half-time score to 14-6.
Despite an early penalty kick from Inu in the second half, Josh Drinkwater, Junior VaiVai, Danny Addy and Weller Hauraki each managed to break the Salford defence to secure the win for the Robins.
HALF-TIME!@SalfordDevils 14 – 6 @hullkrofficial.
Despite an early try from Kane Linnett to open the scoring, Salford hold advantage at half-time with tries from Krisnan Inu, Niall Evalds and Kris Welham!#CCSalHKR #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/6gKUluTaTa
— Salford Red Devils (@SalfordDevils) May 11, 2019
St Helens saw a very close game in their Challenge Cup game against Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith’s Stadium last Sunday.
Saints, who have lost just one of their 2019 Super League season games, were pulled into a two-point lead at half-time with a penalty kick from Australian fullback Lachan Coote.
The Giants levelled the score with a converted try from Joe Wardle with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Kevin Naiqama responded with a try two minutes later, Coote winning the conversion, to bring the final score to 16-22; taking Saints into the seventh-round of the Coral Challenge Cup.
Form
The Red Devils have shown a strong away form in recent games, bringing home two impressive wins at both Warrington Wolves and London Broncos last month.
Sitting at sixth in the Betfred Super League table, Salford will be looking to break their record for most away wins of a season which currently stands at five, matching the 2017 season.
Saints have won 13 games so far this season, losing only once to Catalan Dragons at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan.
Currently top of the table, St Helens are favourites for the 2019 Grand Final and are expected to put up a strong performance at home this Friday.
Head to head
Niall Evalds has impressed many this season, breaking the club record for most Super League tries scored (66) and reaching his 100thmilestone appearance for Salford Red Devils.
The 25-year-old fullback has played a prominent role in this year’s squad, scoring 10 tries in 14 games for Red Devils.
Evalds will go head-to-head with Saints fullback Jonny Lomax tomorrow at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Lomax has played 12 games for St Helens this season, scoring a total of eight tries.
Team News
Salford Red Devils and Wakefield Trinity signed a one-month swap deal earlier this week to swap Junior Sa’u for Pauli Pauli in a loan exchange.
Pauli Pauli is set to make his Salford debut against Saints after being named in Head Coach Ian Watson’s 19-man squad.
The former NRL forward features along-side Logan Tomkins who also returns to replace Jake Bibby and Josh Wood from last week’s Challenge Cup squad.
Squad
Salford: Niall Evalds, Kris Welham, Rob Lui, Lee Mossop, Gil Dudson, Josh Jones, George Griffin, Joey Lussick, Adam Walker, Greg Burke, Tyrone McCarthy, Ben Nakubuwai, Logan Tomkins, Dan Murray, Derrell Olpherts, Ken Sio, Krisnan Inu, Pauli Pauli, Jackson Hastings.
St Helens: Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Regan Grace, Theo Fages, Alex Walmsley, Zeb Taia, Joseph Paulo, Morgan Knowles, Kyle Amor, Dom Peyroux, Adam Swift, Matty Lees, Jack Ashworth, Aaron Smith, James Bentley, Lachlan Coote, Matty Costello, Jack Welsby.
Tickets are available from the AJ Bell ticket office or over the phone at 0161 786 1570. The ticket office is open until 9pm tonight or 3pm tomorrow afternoon. Find out more information on tickets and travel HERE.
