The latest night of Round 20 in the Betfred Super League brings us one of the bonafide blockbusters of the summer era as 10-time champions St Helens face eight-time winners Leeds Rhinos, 10 months on from the pair contesting last season's Grand Final.
The two teams are in desperate need of points for differing reasons, so here is everything you need to know about Friday's two-game slate of action as rugby league again unites to Tackle the Tough Stuff.
Hull Kingston Rovers v Castleford Tigers
Where: Sewell Group Craven Park, Hull.
When: 8pm (BST)
TV: No UK screening
Hull KR's last five: Won 19-18 @ Leeds (Rd 19), Lost 6-16 v Hull FC (Rd 18), Lost 4-34 @ Leigh (Rd 17), Won 28-12 v Wakefield (Rd 16), Lost 4-38 @ Catalans (Rd 15)
Castleford's last five: Lost 18-36 @ Hull FC (Rd 19), Lost 16-34 v Leigh (Rd 18), Lost 0-22 @ St Helens (Rd 17), Won 23-14 v Warrington (Rd 16), Lost 10-42 v Salford (Rd 15)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Hull KR 4/9, Castleford 19/10, draw 18/1
First try scorer odds: Louis Senior (Hull KR) 8/1, Ethan Ryan (Hull KR) 8/1, Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Hull KR) 10/1, Greg Eden (Castleford) 12/1, Jason Qareqare (Castleford) 12/1
Previous meetings:
Round 10, 2023: Castleford Tigers 7, Hull Kingston Rovers 12
Round 12, 2022: Castleford Tigers 32, Hull Kingston Rovers 0
Round 3, 2022: Hull Kingston Rovers 26, Castleford Tigers 10
Round 24, 2021: Hull Kingston Rovers 26, Castleford Tigers 19
Round 6, 2021: Castleford Tigers 22, Hull Kingston Rovers 26
Total Super League meetings: 29 (Hull KR 14, Castleford 13, two draws)
After back-to-back golden-point victories, both of which have come from the boot of new signing Brad Schneider, Rovers have returned to the top six of Super League and reached a first Betfred Challenge Cup final in eight years. Willie Peters will be keen now for his side to maintain this new-found momentum over the next few weeks rather than turning their attentions to Wembley too quickly.
Castleford Tigers have a single sole focus, and that is to stave off relegation. Their latest rough trot has seen Wakefield Trinity come sharply into sight in the rear-view mirror and there are questions being asked regarding Andy Last's effectiveness. The Tigers remain just two points ahead of a rallying Trinity and will see the trip to Craven Park as a prime opportunity to strike.
Sportsman stat: Rovers' 12-7 win at Wheldon Road earlier this season was the lowest-scoring meeting between these two sides since an 8-2 Cas victory in the fog at Craven Park in the old Rugby League Championship in 1992-93.
St Helens v Leeds Rhinos
Where: Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens.
When: 8pm (BST)
TV: Sky Sports Arena
St Helens' last five: Lost 12-14 v Catalans (Rd 19), Won 24-20 @ Warrington (Rd 18), Won 22-0 v Castleford (Rd 17), Lost 6-34 @ Hull FC (Rd 16), Won 34-16 v Wigan (Rd 15)
Leeds' last five: Lost 18-19 v Hull KR (Rd 19), Won 16-14 @ Salford (Rd 18), Won 22-6 @ Warrington (Rd 17), Won 54-0 v Huddersfield (Rd 16), Lost 14-24 @ Wakefield (Rd 15)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): St Helens 8/15, Leeds 6/4, draw 18/1
First try scorer odds: Tommy Makinson (St Helens) 6/1, Ash Handley (Leeds) 7/1, David Fusitu'a (Leeds) 8/1, Tee Ritson (St Helens) 8/1, Jack Welsby (St Helens) 9/1
Previous meetings:
Round 13, 2023: Leeds Rhinos 12, St Helens 13
Round 3, 2023: St Helens 24, Leeds Rhinos 25
Grand Final, 2022: St Helens 24, Leeds Rhinos 12
Round 16, 2022: St Helens 42, Leeds Rhinos 12
Round 7, 2022: Leeds Rhinos 0, St Helens 26
Total Super League meetings: 78 (St Helens 45, Leeds 33, no draws)
A couple of weeks ago it appeared as though Paul Wellens' Saints were starting to recapture their form of old but narrow defeats to table-topping Catalans Dragons in Super League and the season's surprise package Leigh Leopards in the Challenge Cup semi-finals have rocked them back on their heels. The former full-back needs a result this week having blasted the sport's law-makers following that cup exit, with the pressure set to only increase if Saints can't put wins together. They have Alex Walmsley and Agnatius Paasi now missing for the season but James Roby and Mark Percival could both return.
Everything about this fixture recalls golden-point thrillers from a Leeds perspective. They won with an extra-time drop-goal the last time they were at Langtree Park thanks to Blake Austin in Round 3, but then were beaten by Lewis Dodd's one pointer when they hosted Saints in May. And last time out they were again pipped by a point as Brad Schneider scuffed a winner for Hull KR at Headingley. Rohan Smith will need his troops to be more clinical here in their bid to keep their top-six hopes alive.
Sportsman stat: Leeds have won just one of the last 14 meetings with St Helens in all competitions.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
