Leeds Rhinos vs St Helens Prediction: Another tough night expected

The AMT Headingley Stadium will host the round of 16 finals of the Europe Challenge Cup between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens. In their last meeting at this venue, St Helens emerged victorious. Will the hosts be able to turn the tables this time?

Under the guidance of Rohan Smith, Leeds Rhinos, who have won the Challenge Cup 14 times, last claimed the silverware in 2020, showcasing their pedigree. However, they'll need to elevate their performance from last season, where they were eliminated at the same stage of the competition with a home loss against the Wigan Warriors. Smith is counting on the return of key players like James Bentley, Sam Lisone, and Paul Momirovski from injury to boost the team's performance, especially after their recent 8-18 defeat to St Helens in the Super League.

St Helens are no strangers to success in the Challenge Cup, having lifted the cup on 13 occasions, with their most recent victory occurring in 2021. Saints boss Paul Wellens also received the Lance Todd trophy during his playing career. Wellens is hoping that his team can maintain the momentum from last Friday night's victory, despite the absence of players like Tommy Makinson, who was forced to withdraw from last weekend's fixture at the last minute due to a hamstring injury and is expected to remain sidelined tomorrow.

One thing about St Helens is that after a defeat, all focus shifts to rectifying things in the next performance. There will be a concerted effort this week to return to winning ways, starting with individuals setting high standards for themselves, which will ultimately contribute to a great team performance. However, while Leeds Rhinos have been impressive, they have struggled against the St Helens side. Nonetheless, even though the match will be away from home, similar to their league encounter earlier this month, it's not guaranteed to be easy for St Helens. Nevertheless, they have the potential to secure a victory, possibly by a narrow margin.