St Helens Name Squad vs Leeds Rhinos St Helens 2026

Key Points

• St Helens Squad Adjustments: Interim head coach Eamon O’Carroll has named his 21-man squad following a three-game suspension handed to half-back Jackson Hastings for punching Castleford Tigers’ Tyler Dupree.
• Jonny Lomax Returns: Veteran club captain Jonny Lomax has been named in the squad for the first time since fracturing his jaw in June, coinciding with the announcement of his planned retirement at the end of the 2026 season.
• David Klemmer Back in Action: Senior forward David Klemmer returns to the St Helens squad after recovering from three broken ribs sustained during Magic Weekend.
• Leeds Rhinos Squad Selection: Leeds manager Brad Arthur has made just two alterations, welcoming back centre Jack Bird after concussion protocols and hooker Danny Levi following an ankle injury.
• Jake Connor Fitness Confirmed: Despite hobbling off in the victory against York Knights, half-back Jake Connor has been passed fit to start alongside Brodie Croft.

St Helens (The Leeds Times) August 28, 2026 — Matchday squads have been officially confirmed ahead of Friday night’s high-stakes Super League encounter at the BrewDog Stadium, where St Helens host league leaders Leeds Rhinos with significant focus placed on the tactical setups within the halves.

What are the major squad changes for St Helens ahead of the Leeds Rhinos match?

As reported by Callum Walker of TotalRL, St Helens interim coach Eamon O’Carroll has made two alterations to the 21-man squad that secured victory over Castleford Tigers last weekend. Stand-in captain and playmaker Jackson Hastings misses out after receiving a three-match penalty notice for a Grade E punching incident involving Castleford prop Tyler Dupree. Academy youngster Oscar Knox also drops out of the matchday squad.

Replacing the suspended Hastings is club captain Jonny Lomax. As highlighted by official media coverage from St Helens R.F.C., Lomax returns to the 21-man squad for the first time since suffering a fractured jaw in June. The return comes in the wake of Lomax announcing that the 2026 campaign will be his final season as a professional player prior to his retirement.

In addition to Lomax’s return, St Helens welcome back experienced prop David Klemmer. Klemmer is included after recovering from three broken ribs sustained during the club’s Magic Weekend fixture.

Addressing the positional reshuffle necessitated by Hastings’ absence, Eamon O’Carroll stated, as quoted by Aaron Bower of Love Rugby League:

“There’s no doubting Tristan [Sailor] has played well in that position but the team has played well around him. Ideally we’d like minimal disruption… we’ve got a couple of options. We’ve got another training session so I’ll be looking at what fits best. We understand that we may have to move people around and that may be likely. But we won’t panic and I have to be sure that it’s the best decision for the team.”

How are Leeds Rhinos lining up following recent injury concerns?

As detailed by The Stats Zone, Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur has confirmed his 21-man lineup with minimal changes following their recent victory over York Knights. Half-back Jake Connor, who hobbled off during the York Knights fixture, has recovered in time from his leg issue to take his place in the starting squad alongside Brodie Croft.

As reported by Callum Walker of TotalRL, Arthur has made two changes to his 21-man group. Centre Jack Bird returns to the squad after completing his return-to-play protocol following a concussion, taking the place of Oscar Brown.

Hooker Danny Levi is also included for the first time since sustaining an injury against Castleford Tigers in July, replacing Jeremiah Mata’utia. Star winger Maika Sivo remains unavailable for selection.

What is the confirmed 21-man squad for St Helens?

• St Helens: Jack Welsby, Harry Robertson, Mark Percival, Deon Cross, Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Shane Wright, David Klemmer, Jacob Host, Joe Shorrocks, Nene Macdonald, Jacob Douglas, Jake Davies, Tom Humphreys, Cole Marsh, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Billy Keeley, Matty Evans, Chris Matagi, Jack Campbell.

What is the confirmed 21-man squad for Leeds Rhinos?

• Leeds Rhinos: Lachlan Miller, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Tom Holroyd, Kallum Watkins, Chris Hankinson, Cooper Jenkins, Cameron Smith, Presley Cassell, Riley Lumb, Danny Levi, Tom Nicholson-Watton, Fergie McCormack, Jack Bird, Matt Lodge, Zak Lloyd.

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Background of the particular development

The disciplinary fallout surrounding Jackson Hastings stems from an incident late in the first half of St Helens’ Round 24 victory over Castleford Tigers at the BrewDog Stadium. Hastings was issued a red card for punching Castleford prop Tyler Dupree, who was sent to the sin-bin for his involvement.

The Rugby Football League’s Match Review Panel subsequently handed Hastings a three-match suspension, effectively ruling the half-back out for the remainder of the 2026 Super League regular season.

The suspension leaves St Helens without their primary playmaker at a critical stage of the campaign. Hastings entered the match holding 29 try assists for the season, ranking second across the entire Super League behind Leeds Rhinos playmaker Jake Connor.

The timing of the ban coincides with St Helens battling to secure a place in the top six play-offs, while incoming head coach Kevin Walters prepares to take charge of squad overhauls ahead of the 2027 campaign.

Prediction: How this development will affect both clubs and their supporters

For St Helens and their supporters, the suspension of Jackson Hastings presents a significant tactical test in their push for top-six qualification. Losing the league’s second-highest assist provider strips the Saints of their primary attacking focal point during matches against playoff rivals. However, the return of Jonny Lomax provides experienced leadership in the spine, mitigating the operational disruption for interim coach Eamon O’Carroll.

Should Lomax adapt quickly following his jaw fracture recovery, St Helens remain competitive, though any further organizational imbalance in the halves could leave them vulnerable to dropping out of playoff contention.

For Leeds Rhinos, the timely fitness clearance of Jake Connor and the return of key senior players like Jack Bird and Danny Levi maintain stability for Brad Arthur’s side.

Facing a St Helens side forced into tactical reshuffling provides Leeds an opportunity to consolidate their position at the top of the Super League table. With Connor operating at full fitness alongside Brodie Croft, the Rhinos retain their main creative engine, positioning them to dictate the tempo of Friday’s encounter.