St Helens vs Salford Red Devils Prediction: New Saint to get off to a flyer

The 2025 Betfred Super League season is underway and St Helens' campaign gets underway at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday (17:30, live on BBC 2) against Salford Red Devils.

Saints legend and Betfred ambassador Paul Sculthorpe shares his St Helens vs Salford Red Devils prediction.

We're always quick to focus on the negative stories in rugby league, but it was great to get some positive news about our great sport this week.

Salford Red Devils, Saints' opponents this Saturday as the Betfred Super League season gets underway, have completed a takeover, which will clear current debts and invest into the club and team going forward.

Paul Rowley’s side have massively over-achieved in the past few years, despite one of the smallest squads and financial pots available. It would have been a crying shame to see the team broken up and sold off, as threatened if much-needed investment wasn’t found.

Instead, the future now looks rosy for the club, who I must say I’ve always had a soft spot for. Let’s hope the new investors can continue to drive more commercial partners and fan footfalls for the club, continuing to enhance the RL presence closer to Manchester city centre.

The immediate future doesn't look so rosy. The Red Devils have to field a reserve team at the Totally Wicked Stadium due to still being under the restrictions of the sustainability cap while takeover documents await approval.

In the spirit of competition, it's a shame. Saints are now 1/200 at Betfred to claim both points and make the perfect start to the 2025 season.

Paul Wellens and Co warmed up for the season with a Betfred Challenge Cup tie against National Conference League side West Hull and it was heart-warming to see the interest it garnered.

It was the first amateur side the mighty Saints have faced since 1948. That’s the magic of the competition!

It was a gusty performance from the West Hull side, who travelled across the City to play at the home of Hull Kingston Rovers.

The gaffer went with a number of first-choice players, including Jack Welsby, skipper for the day Joe Batchelor and duo debutants Lewis Murphy and Tristan Sailor.

Murphy crossed for the final try of the game to get his Saints tally up and running, but it was Sailor who unsurprisingly stole the show. Having a hand in a number of tries, as well as opening his own account with one in the second half.

He looked very comfortable in the stand-off role, showing some classy touches on the edges and some wheels to cross the whitewash.

Wello said that people turn up to watch this type of player, accepting he may make an error or two but can at any time produce special moments other players can’t.

And people did turn up! It was reported that over 2,000 people gained free access to watch one of rugby league's greatest clubs take on one of the game's leading amateurs. I’m sure it was a memorable day for everyone involved - players and fans alike.

Back to our Betfred Super League opener on Saturday, when Salford's youngsters come to town.

It's expected to be a very one-sided affair, with little value in the outright markets and handicaps. Instead, I'm going to suggest our new try-scoring machine from the NRL, Kyle Feldt, to open the scoring at 5/1.

Finally, it was to great to see a number of the Saints' own youngsters sign long-term deals with the club.

Many of these played in the Betfred Challenge Cup win at the weekend - Harry Robertson and George Whitby being two who did no damage to their ever-growing reputations. Noah Stephens and Owen Dagnall also committed for the foreseeable future.

In a salary cap sport, it's important to have that pathway of young talent coming through. Also, homegrown players always have that extra will to progress - and from what we saw last year and the 80 minutes on Saturday, the club looks to be in very good hands.

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