Hull KR vs St Helens Prediction: Scully says to never write off the Saints!

St Helens booked their place in the Betfred Super League play-off semi-finals in the most dramatic fashion, beating Leeds Rhinos with the last play of the game. They now take on League Leaders' Shield winners Hull KR on Saturday (17:30, live on BBC Two).

Saints legend Paul Sculthorpe shares his Hull KR vs St Helens predictions ahead of Saturday's showdown.

Never write off the Saints - isn’t that what they say?

Well, almost 25 years to the day of one of, if not the best tries in the club's history ‘Wide to West’ we have another contender.

‘Left to Wright’ - take a bow.

After 79 minutes and 58 seconds of some distinctly average attacking play, the Saints come up with a moment of pure magic.

A last-gasp penalty restart saw Saints throw caution to the wind in keeping the ball alive, pulling the Rhinos defence ragged with a 16 pass combination.

The game-breaking moment was when the ball got in the hands of Harry Robertson. Harry by his own standards had a pretty poor game, certainly not helped by some of the service given to him throughout the first 79 minutes.

However, when it mattered, the 19-year-old wonderkid turned on the class. From getting the ball in his hands, he beat six or seven defenders with his powerful, weaving ducking style - and in doing that pulled majority of the Leeds defenders to his side of the field.

An offload to Tristan Sailor, who complimented Harry’s efforts with a majestic backhand spin pass which took out all but two of the Rhinos defence, then it was a case of basic ‘hands across the line’ to new boy Shane Wright to write his name in Saints folklore, in only his second appearance in the Red V.

I had a message off Mr Chairman on the Sunday morning, clearly still on cloud nine! We exchanged messages, and I said to Eamonn:

"Champions find a way..."

And that’s what Paul Wellens and his team did. However clunky the performance, they are in the semi-finals and get an opportunity to travel to Hull KR for a place in the 2025 Betfred Super League Grand Final.

I believe a lot of the Leeds fans weren’t happy about my comments in last week's column about their team. I rest my case!

I’ll be brutally honest, I thought Saints were as poor on attack as we’ve seen this year. It looked like a group of individuals trying to create something themselves. No connectivity, or genuine attacking threat in numbers. On the back of that, the kicking game looked a disorganised, rushed, hit and hope.

But, yet again the grit, doggedness and desire on defence got them through. Lead again by Morgan Knowles and his pack. That's minerals!

That job was made even more difficult when Matty Lees left the stadium to be at the birth of his child after his partner went into labour.

What a night he had! His teammates pulling off the win, and the birth of his beautiful daughter Sienna-Rose Lees. Many congratulations to Matty and Beth on your new addition.

So, onto East Hull- and I think anyone associated with the Saints know this is a vast step up in challenge.

Rovers, who are going for the treble having already won the Betfred Challenge Cup and League Leaders Shield, come into this game having had a week off.

Willie Peters’ team have clearly been the most consistent team throughout the 2025 season, but just recently have shown glimpses of vulnerability or fatigue after a long season.

They have lost two of their last five in Super League, and I’m sure there’s things the Saints coaching team have pinpointed to exploit.

We know the Robins love to throw the ball about, led by England pair Mikey Lewis and Jez Litten. So the Saints defence will again have to be prepared to run themselves into the ground.

However, to win this game, we need to score points and team selection will be critical.

If it was my choice, Welsby needs to go back to his natural position of full back. Him or Sailor in the halves doesn’t work, period. We need Jack at his best, and that is returning the ball from backfield, and being free to roam where he sees a threat.

I’d also be tempted to start George Whitby at seven, despite a significant time out of the team. His energy and enthusiasm to direct play, and a clinical kicking game could be the difference in getting to Old Trafford or not.

Either way, we need to ask questions of the Hull KR defence and give the likes of Harry and Mark Percival some space and genuine attacking opportunities.

Title sponsors Betfred unsurprisingly have the Hull KR vs St Helens Odds as follows: KR are 1/4 favourites to win the game with the visitors clear underdogs at 16/5, but it’s all about the 80 minutes ahead - nothing else matters.

Remember, never write off the Saints! I'm backing them to do the business and book their place the Grand Final against the winner of the Battle of the Borough between Wigan and Leigh on Friday evening.

Finally, a massive good luck to the Saints Women, who face arch rivals Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final at the Brick Community Stadium on Sunday. Go get it girls!

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