St Helens’ Joey Lussick driven by 2019 Grand Final hurt ahead of semi-final showdown with old club Salford

Joey Lussick is on a mission aimed at burying the most disappointing moment of his Rugby League career.

The 26-year-old Aussie, who joined St Helens at the start of the season from Parramatta Eels, is expected to be named in the final 17-man squad to face Salford Red Devils in Saturday’s Betfred Super League semi-final play-off at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

By a twist of fate, he now finds himself on the opposite side of the fence in a battle for an Old Trafford date later this month.

Lussick was a member of the Salford side which St Helens defeated 23-6 in the 2019 Grand Final and  doesn’t want to suffer a similar chastening experience this weekend.

He said: "We are one game off Old Trafford so every team will be backing themselves. This is the real nitty gritty of the competition now and there is a real excitement around the club and team and we just can’t wait for Saturday.

"My old club Salford have also finished the regular season strongly and we know the threats they are going to pose."

Lussick, who stayed pitch side and watched St Helens celebrate their 2019 victory, added:"I just said to myself, jeez, I wish that was me."

Now he is just 80 minutes away from his second Grand Final and confident Saints’ name will be etched on the trophy for a  record-breaking fourth year on the trot.

Saints’ squad: 1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 4.Mark Percival, 6. Jonny Lomax, 9. James Roby, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 12. Joe Batchelor, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Joey Lussick, 15. LMS, 16. Curtis Sironen, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 19. Jake Wingfield, 20. James Bell, 22. Ben Davies, 23. Konrad Hurrell, 26. Sam Royle, 27. Jon Bennison, 31. Taylor Pemberton.

*The tie, which will be screened live by both Sky TV and Channel 4, kicks-off at 1pm.