St Helens’ Joey Lussick set to step up against Halifax Panthers

Several players are missing due to suspension and injury and long-time hooker and skipper James Roby is rested.
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Saints will be leaving no stone unturned as they wind down their preparations for Friday’s Rugby League  Challenge Cup tie against underdogs Halifax Panthers at the Shay.

The 13-times winners of the famous trophy have selected a team which, on paper, should be too powerful for the fourth-placed West Yorkshire Championship side and avoid defeat in what is being dubbed a David v Goliath contest.

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Several players are missing due to suspension and injury and long-time hooker and skipper James Roby is rested, leaving Joey Lussick the opportunity to be handed more game time.

St Helens have won their last 15 meetings with Halifax, while the Panthers last victory against their rivals  Saints was a 16-10 Super League home win on May 24, 1998.

Saints have also won on their last seven visits to Halifax, last tasting defeat  in that same May 1998 fixture.

Friday’s squad: Welsby, Makinson, Hopoate, Bennison,  Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Mata’utia Batchelor, Knowles, Lussick, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Passi, Wingfield, Bell, Norman, Davies, Royle, Ritson, Delaney, Bruines.

Last 10 meetings:

  • Halifax 2, St Helens 26 (CCSF, 27/7/19) (at University of Bolton Stadium)
  • St Helens 58, Halifax 2 (SLR15, 20/6/03) (at Knowsley Road)
  • Halifax 0, St Helens 38 (SLR8, 2/5/03)
  • St Helens 64, Halifax 0 (SLR24, 23/8/02) (at Knowsley Road)
  • Halifax 18, St Helens 21 (SLR20, 26/7/02)
  • St Helens 38, Halifax 6 (SLR9, 3/5/02) (at Knowsley Road)
  • Halifax 20, St Helens 26 (CCQF, 17/3/02)
  • Halifax 22, St Helens 46 (SLR20, 22/7/01)
  • St Helens 32, Halifax 26 (SLR10, 11/5/01) (at Knowsley Road)
  • Halifax 24, St Helens 28 (SLR16, 23/6/00)

Previous Challenge Cup meetings:

  • 2019 (semi-final) Halifax 2 St Helens 26 (at University of Bolton Stadium)
  • 2002 (quarter final) Halifax 20 St Helens 26
  • 1991 (quarter  final) Halifax 16 St Helens 24
  • 1987 (final) Halifax 19 St Helens 18 (at Wembley Stadium)
  • 1963 (round 1) Halifax 9 St Helens 2
  • 1956 (final) Halifax 2 St Helens 13 (at Wembley Stadium)
  • 1950 (round 1, second leg) Halifax 2 St Helens 0
  • 1950 (round 1, first leg) St Helens 10 Halifax 6
  • 1933 (quarter final) St Helens 18 Halifax 3
  • 1931 (semi-final) Halifax 11 St Helens 2 (at The Athletic Ground, Rochdale)
  • 1910 (round 2) Halifax 21 St Helens 6
  • 1909 (round 1) Halifax 15 St Helens 8
  • 1904 (round 1) Halifax 15 St Helens 0