World Club Challenge: Talking points and team news as St Helens take on Penrith Panthers | Rugby League News

4-time Tremendous League champions St Helens will face back-to-back NRL champions Penrith Panthers; watch the World Membership Problem between St Helens and Penrith Panthers on Sky Sports activities Enviornment, Combine and Principal Occasion from 7.50am on Saturday February 18

St Helens will look to defy the chances and safe a win over Penrith Panthers on Saturday

We have taken a have a look at all the most recent speaking factors and staff information as St Helens and Penrith Panthers go head-to-head within the World Membership Problem….

The celebrities seem

With the World Membership Problem being performed through the pre-season, there may be typically concern that groups is not going to put a few of their star gamers. Nonetheless, on this yr’s sport, it is one thing nobody wants to fret about.

St Helens will discipline their strongest squad, minus injured Joe Batchelor, with the Panthers signing Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai.

Penrith’s backline has been formidable lately and can pose a menace to St Helens, however the English champions have their very own star high quality.

Jack Welsby, who impressed within the Saints’ win over the St George Illawarra Dragons and confronted Luai on the World Cup in November, shall be somebody the Australian squad must watch and Lewis Dodd and Alex Walmsley have additionally anticipated to trigger harm. .

4-time Tremendous League champions towards two-time NRL champions is as thrilling a contest as the game is, and these groups will not need to disappoint.

Sculthorpe: Key performs the ‘Saints approach’

Paul Sculthorpe is aware of St Helens will have to be at their finest to beat Penrith within the World Membership Problem on Saturday.

The nice Saints Sculthorpe is a two-time winner of the annual showpiece and is aware of what it takes to come back out on high.

The 45-year-old additionally thinks it is a “good” time to face the Australian champions, because the groups play one another at BlueBet Stadium in Penrith, New South Wales this weekend.

Sculthorpe advised the PA information company: “The Saints have had a few friendlies however it’s an entire completely different sport of soccer on Saturday.

“I believe for the Saints to win they need to be at their finest. But additionally, it is a good time to meet up with Penrith, they’ve to start out quick and get within the face and upset them.

“They’ve a whole lot of gifted gamers, however so do the Saints. Do not fall into the lure of attempting to beat them at what they do, play the Saints approach and play rugby.”

Cleary: The Panthers are able to go

Penrith’s Cleary thinks his facet are wanting to go as they put together to face St Helens.

This shall be Cleary’s first World Membership Problem match, as none have been performed since 2020, and he is aware of his facet might want to present the “respect” of St Helens to get the job executed.

“Clearly a novel state of affairs for us, we have not been capable of play in a [due to Covid]”Cleary mentioned.

“Clearly it is also an enormous problem and a staff like St Helens deserves our utmost respect.

“They’ve gained 4 competitions in a row; it is actually wonderful.

“I am actually wanting ahead to the problem this presents on Saturday night time and it is an important alternative for us on the membership as a result of we have by no means gained one earlier than.”

Named squads:

Saint Helena: 1.Jack Welsby, 2.Tommy Makinson, 3.Will Hopoate, 4.Mark Percival, 5.Jon Bennison, 6.Jonny Lomax, 7.Lewis Dodd, 8.Alex Walmsley, 9.James Roby, 10.Matty Lees, 11.Sione Mata’utia, 13.Morgan Knowles, 14.Joey Lussick, 15.Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 16.Curtis Sironen, 17.Agnatius Paasi, 18.Jake Wingfield, 19.James Bell, 20.Dan Norman, 21 .Ben Davies, 23.Konrad Hurrell, 25.Tee Ritson

Panthers of Penrith: 1.Stephen Crichton 2.Taylan Could 3.Izack Tago 4.Sunia Turuva 5.Brian To’o 6.Jarome Luai 7.Nathan Cleary 8.Moses Leota 9.Mitch Kenny 10.James Fisher-Harris 11.Luke Garner 12. Zac Hosking 13.Isaah Yeo 14.Jack Cogger 15.Matt Eisenhuth 16.Spencer Leniu 17.Jaeman Salmon 18.Lindsay Smith 19.Kurt Falls 20.Liam Henry 21.Thomas Jenkins 22.Mavrik Geyer

NRL Pre-Season Problem and All Stars Matches

Friday February 17: Charity Defend – St George Illawarra Dragons v South Sydney Rabbitohs (4.30am), Newcastle Knights v Parramatta Eels (6.55am), Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles (9am).

Saturday February 18: Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders (Air sports activities combine3h55), WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE – PENRITH PANTHERS VS ST HELENS (7h50)Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys (9:10).

Sunday February 19: New Zealand Warriors v Melbourne Storm (Air sports activities combine1h50), Canterbury Bulldogs towards Cronulla Sharks (6h), Dolphins towards Canberra Raiders (8h05).

* All matches on Sky Sports activities Enviornment until talked about

Sky Sports activities is internet hosting all three Tremendous League Grand Finals in 2023. The Males’s Grand Last, Ladies’s Grand Last and Wheelchair Grand Last will all be stay on Sky Sports activities subsequent season.

The brand new Tremendous League season begins on Thursday February 16, with Sky Sports activities displaying 66 video games stay this yr.