St Helens vs Hull FC Prediction: Scully backing Saints to keep building momentum

After an emphatic 52-4 win over Huddersfield Giants, St Helens are back in action on Friday night against Hull FC (20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports Action). Saints legend Paul Sculthorpe is here with his St Helens vs Hull FC predictions.

Another week, another convincing win and more momentum has been built towards the business end of the season.

This was after Saints' 52-4 demolition of Huddersfield Giants on Sunday, moving up to third in the Betfred Super League.

They sit only two points behind second-placed Wigan, adding even more spice, I’m sure, to the upcoming derby fixture at the Totally Wicked Stadium on September 5.

It took nine minutes for Saints to get the scoreboard moving. Mark Percival finally crossing the line after both Tristan Sailor and Daryl Clark embarrassed the Giants defence.

That was soon followed by first-half tries from Kyle Feldt, Sailor and Owen Dagnall. The latter nearly bombing a try following a weaving cross field run, tackled short of the line with a supporting Harry Robertson on hand. Thankfully he had the strength to force the ball down and continue his impressive strike rate this season.

The Giants' only points came just before half-time. Former Saint Joe Greenwood walking through some uncharacteristic soft Saints defence. Wello will have been mightily disappointed to concede points in this manner, and I’m sure this was quietly addressed in the sheds a couple of minutes later.

However, it took less than a minute into the second half for both Jonnie Lomax and Sailor to make up for their defensive errors, Sailor breaking the Giants defence after good work from Agnatius Paasi, putting the supporting Lomax under the posts.

Not only are the team clearly in great form and confidence, but Paul Wellens has had a massive boost with the return of a number of first line players.

Jack Welsby made his shock return, only 10 weeks after knee surgery, six weeks earlier than expected. He was eased back into action by Wello, bringing him off the bench. He did have a hand in Kyle Feldt’s 18th try of the season with a cross field kick that saw the winger outjump his opposite number.

Hull-bound duo Joe Batchelor and James Bell also returned from significant injury layoffs. Batchelor, like Jack having a try-assist to his name as a neat offload put Percy in for his second try.

Saints penultimate try wasn’t as silky! This was just Morgan Knowles doing Morgan Knowles things. A short ball from Daryl Clark straight off the ruck, the barnstorming loose forward barged and spun his way over the whitewash.

I have to agree with his coaches' post-match sentiments - Morgs doesn’t always get the plaudits for his involvements and work rates, but 100% he would be the first player on the team sheet every week, and a player than every coach in the world of RL would love. He will certainly be a huge loss next year when he heads to the NRL to join his former boss Kristian Woolf at the Dolphins.

Finally, I have got to give a massive wrap to Tristan Sailor on recent performances. I was very critical of him mid-season, and rightly so, I felt. However, he has found his running game again and has helped Saints look far more threatening on the attack.

He capped an outstanding display on Sunday with a solo effort from his own 20m line, to skin the Huddersfield defence and take Saints over the half century.

I’ve no doubt there’s still lots of improvement to come in this team, but in recent form and a good bill of health Saints will certainly be challenging to lift the Betfred Super League trophy in October. They are now 8/1 to do so with the Title sponsors.

This week they face a stiffer challenge as Hull FC head to the TWS. To be honest, again I can’t see past a home win, and will go for a Saints win by 16pts.

The St Helens vs Hull FC Odds are as follows: 2/13 for Saints, 9/2 for Hull FC and 22/1 for the draw.

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