St Helens vs Hull FC Predictions: Saints to respond in style

St Helens need a response when hosting Hull FC in the Betfred Super League on Friday night (20:00) after their 31-8 defeat to Warrington Wolves in the Betfred Challenge Cup last weekend.

Club legend Paul Sculthorpe reflects on that loss before sharing his St Helens vs Hull FC predictions.

Sometimes you just have to accept it’s not your day, which was certainly the case for Saints against Warrington in the Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

Barring a 10-minute spell in the first half after the introduction of James Bell and Sione Mata'utia, it was possibly the worst display I’ve watched from a Saints team in a long time.

Take no credit away from a determined Wire side, who completely outplayed us throughout - even though we were in the lead up to the 55-minute mark!

There's been a lot of questions about the team's attack this year. For me, there's not been enough taking control and asking questions of the opposing defences from the half-backs.

Too many times on Sunday players looked void of ideas. On top of this, when things aren’t going well with the ball and you spend so much time defending, energy levels are sapped and discipline drops off. This is a vicious circle.

In defence of Paul Wellens’ men, I will say they looked completely shattered. They have played a lot of rugby through April and May, featuring two back-to-back wins at Headingley against the Rhinos and that epic Good Friday defeat of Wigan - and then what is always a tough trip to the South of France to face the Dragons. It always takes its toll, which is what I think happened last weekend.

Either way, we can’t dwell on Sunday's defeat anymore as it's time to get back on the Betfred Super League horse.

A desperate Hull FC side come to the Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday evening. The black and whites are a club in crisis, without a head coach following the sacking of Tony Smith - and this week two key players in Nu Brown and Tex Hoy left the club with immediate effect.

Friday's visitors have only won one of their opening seven games and are currently 11th in the Betfred Super League table, so this should be straightforward... but as we know rugby league doesn’t work that way!

It’s important Saints bounce back, not only with a win but with a slick performance to match.

That will be a little harder without Alex Walmsley who has tweaked his hamstring and possibly Curtis Sironen who sustained an upper body knock, but the return of Mark Percival, who will certainly add energy and attacking prowess on the left edge, is a massive boost.

I’m backing the lads to get right back on track on Friday and inflict more misery on Adam Pearson and Co. with a thumping win by 31 points or more.

Find more Super League Tips here at Betfred Insights