- Challenge Cup final talking points ;
- Austin not in Wolves' Cup final 19 ;
- England 67 all out at Headingley ;
- England vs Ireland talking points ;
- Tour Championship leaderboard;
Welcome to the Daily Sports News
Reveal spoiler
Challenge Cup final talking points: Blake Austin's absence, Lachlan Coote's return and key statistics
Warrington and St Helens both have their eyes on the prize
We look at some of the big talking points as Warrington Wolves and St Helens go head to head for the Challenge Cup at Wembley on Saturday.
Could Austin yet feature for Wolves?
The most eye-catching omission from Warrington's 19-man squad announced on Thursday was that of Blake Austin, who has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle ligament injury away to Catalans Dragons at the start of the month.
- Holbrook and Price: The best of rivals
- Big move pays off for Warrington's Jason Clark
- St Helens' James Roby eager for Wembley return
- Challenge Cup final QUIZ!
That does not necessarily mean he will not feature on Saturday, however. Indeed, the more conspiracy-minded rugby league fans will note Wolves head coach Steve Price has previous for making changes after the 19 have been announced.
Just last month, Stefan Ratchford was a surprise name in the starting line-up for their Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Hull FC, despite not being included in the initial extended squad put out in the build-up to the game.
Half-back Austin, one of the leading contenders for Super League's Man of Steel accolade, has made a massive impact at the Halliwell Jones Stadium since switching from NRL side Canberra Raiders at the end of last season and Price may give him a chance to prove his fitness in Friday's closed captain's run.
Blake Austin was not named in Warrington's 19-man squad for the final
With recent signing Matty Smith ineligible as well, Price will have to come up with an alternative if the 28-year-old cannot play and that could be full-back Ratchford moving into the halves, having played there during his time at Salford Red Devils.
"That's a possibility," Ratchford said. "We brought Matty in, which is going to be good for us going forward in Super League, but unfortunately he can't play at Wembley.
"If Blake is not fit, then someone is going to have to step up. I'm sure there's a number of options.
"Do we throw Riley Dean in there, who was really good on his debut? I've played there quite a lot in the past; I think Ben Currie has actually played there for Ireland; Toby King, maybe?"
Coote back to strengthen Saints
Lachlan Coote has quickly become a fans' favourite at St Helens
While Price has been sweating on the fitness of Austin, Josh Charnley and Jack Hughes - the latter two of whom were named in his 19-man squad - in the build-up to the final, St Helens head coach Justin Holbrook has a surfeit of options.
Several players have returned from injury in time to feature in Saints' first Challenge Cup final since 2008, with skipper James Roby and forward Alex Walmsley both returning to the 19-man squad.
Another making a welcome return is Lachlan Coote, who is in line to make his first appearance since the 32-10 derby win over Wigan Warriors on July 12.
The Scotland international full-back has rapidly become a fans' favourite at Totally Wicked Stadium since joining from NRL outfit North Queensland Cowboys ahead of the 2019 season, scoring 16 tries in 22 appearances.
Coote's 19 assists in Super League this year underline his attacking threat, while only Hull FC's Marc Sneyd has kicked more than his 86 goals in the competition so far this season.
St Helens have coped well in his absence though, wrapping up the League Leaders' Shield at the start of August, and Holbrook has backed whoever makes his match-day 17 to be up to the task.
"Whoever we pick in our side is playing well and that's what's giving us a good gap over the rest of the field," Holbrook said.
"It's been a great season so far, but we know we've got to play well when it counts and that's on Saturday against a very strong opposition in Warrington."
Saints hold the head-to-head edge
Saturday's final will mark the fourth time Warrington and St Helens have clashed this year - and they could yet meet again in the Super League play-offs or Grand Final before the season is out.
As they have with most of the division in 2019 - bottom side London Broncos proving something of a bogey team, though - Saints have left the Wolves trailing in their wake in all three of those previous encounters.
The first meeting in April at Totally Wicked Stadium saw the hosts recover from going behind after 14 minutes to a converted try from Austin to run out 38-12 winners and go top of the table, ending a run of five straight wins for Warrington.
The June encounter at the Halliwell Jones Stadium was much tighter, with the only scores for a long time coming from Patton's boot via three penalties to put Warrington 6-0 up after 52 minutes.
But when St Helens centre Mark Percival broke the try-scoring drought just after the hour it set them on course to record a 21-10 victory, with further tries coming from forwards Luke Thompson and Walmsley.
The 30-12 win for Saints two weeks ago at the same venue saw both sides resting some of their big names and Holbrook is not reading anything into his side's previous results against Warrington.
"We've played well against them a few times this year, but we know that won't affect them," said Holbrook.
"They're a confident side and they'll be confident on Saturday, so it's up to us to make sure we play well again."
Steve Price wants to see Warrington's defence come to the fore against St Helens
Price is well-aware of the dangers posed by their Cup final opponents and is looking for a strong defensive effort from his side to keep them at bay.
"Warrington-St Helens are always tough games and we've been on the receiving end of some tough losses of late against them," Price said.
"They're a team who are very clinical in what they do and defensive we're going to have to be really sound."
Eagles and Vikings back on the big stage
Sheffield and Widnes are back at Wembley to contest the first 1895 Cup final
Two other former Challenge Cup winners will be gracing the Wembley stage again on Saturday after the main event when Sheffield Eagles and Widnes Vikings go head-to-head in the inaugural 1895 Cup final (kick-off 5.30pm).
Both clubs have been through more than their fair share of ups and downs in recent years, but now have a chance to put that behind them by becoming the first to win the competition for clubs outside of Super League which was introduced this season.
The Eagles are coached by Mark Aston, star of the Sheffield side which stunned Wigan at Wembley 21 years ago to claim one of the most surprising triumphs in the history of the competition and he has been passing on those lessons to his team.
Sheffield Eagles stunned Wigan Warriors to lift the Challenge Cup in 1998
"We are confident if we can defend and have the right attitude then we can achieve anything," Aston told the Sheffield Telegraph. "When you look back on that Wigan side in 1998 compared with our side, nobody gave us a chance.
"I remember we just did what we had to do to win. It'll be a similar message to the players this time."
Widnes are back at Wembley for the first time since 1993 and are aiming to add to the legacy at the famous venue which saw them become known at the 'Cup Kings' in the early 1980s.
Widnes enjoyed plenty of Challenge Cup success in the early 1980s
Victory would be something of a fairy-tale climax to the season for the seven-time Challenge Cup winners, who were handed a points deduction at the start of the year for going into administration.
"It's a fantastic way to finish the season," Vikings head coach Kieron Purtill said. "Obviously we've had some tough times this year, but we've had a lot of people supporting us and it's a fantastic way for them to go and enjoy a day out.
"I think both clubs deserve a bit of credit for what we've come through and it's a fantastic day we're both looking forward to."
Match stats
- St Helens are aiming for their 13th Challenge Cup triumph, which would put them joint-second with Leeds on the all-time list of winners. Victory for Warrington would make it the ninth time they have lifted the trophy.
- This is the first time St Helens and Warrington have met in the Challenge Cup final, although they have faced each other 15 times at other stages in the competition.
- The Wolves have only won four of those, however - the last of which was a 4-2 victory in the quarter-finals in 1969.
- Warrington have the better head-to-head record in finals between the clubs though. They won three of the four deciders between the sides in the old Lancashire Cup and edged the 1974 Club Championship final 13-12.
- Saints are aiming to lift the Cup for the first time since 2008. Warrington's last success came in 2012, although they were also runners-up in 2016 and 2018.
Reveal spoiler
Challenge Cup final: Blake Austin not in Warrington Wolves' 19-man squad for St Helens clash at Wembley
Blake Austin is not in Warrington's 19-man squad for the Challenge Cup final
Blake Austin has not been named in Warrington Wolves' 19-man squad for Saturday’s Challenge Cup final, but Josh Charnley and Jack Hughes are included.
Half-back Austin has not featured for the Wolves since suffering a torn ankle ligament in the defeat to Catalans Dragons in Perpignan just under three weeks ago, while Charnley and Hughes had been sidelined through injury recently too.
The latter two have been named in Warrington's extended squad to face St Helens at Wembley and head coach Steve Price will confirm their fitness in Friday's captain's run, but there was no place for the Man of Steel contender in the 19.
"I'll give it until the captain's run and if the guys aren't all right for the captain's run, whoever dons our jersey will be fine," Price said.
"Stefan Ratchford picked up a few knocks throughout the game (against Wigan Warriors) the other night, but I'm confident he'll be fine."
St Helens have Lachlan Coote and Alex Walmsley available again after recovering from knee and eye injuries respectively, while James Roby is set to captain the club on their first Challenge Cup final for 11 years.
St Helens welcome Lachlan Coote back into the 19-man Challenge Cup final squad
Hooker Roby returns to the side after being rested for last week's 36-20 win away to Leeds Rhinos in Super League, as does Morgan Knowles who missed the trip to Headingley due to illness.
Aaron Smith is unavailable due to being suspended, however, while Matty Lees is ruled out after suffering an abdominal injury against Leeds.
"Matty thought after the game he'd copped a bit of a knock on his hip, but by the time I had come back from the press conference he was in a pretty bad way in the sheds," Saints head coach Justin Holbrook said.
"He wasn't in a great way after last week's game, but everyone else is who has been playing is fit and ready to go."
Ashes 2019: England collapse to 67 all out as Australia run riot at Headingley
Australia advance to 82-3, a lead of 194, at tea as they go for win to retain the urn
Australia seized control of the third Ashes Test after bowling England out for 67 just after lunch on day two at Headingley.
England showed some fight with the ball to take three wickets in the afternoon session but Australia reached 82-3 at tea, a lead of 194, as the game continues to move forward at a staggering pace.
After Australia fought their way to 179 under leaden skies on day one, Josh Hazlewood took 5-30 as England conceded a hefty first-innings deficit of 112 in posting their lowest total in Ashes Tests since 1948 despite overhead conditions appearing perfect for batting.The sun was beating down in Leeds but few of the England batsmen were around long enough to enjoy it as a combination of some fine Australian bowling, led by Hazlewood, and some extremely loose shots made it a morning to forget for a stunned home crowd.
Only Joe Denly (12) made doubled figures - and required more than his share of good fortune to do so - as any advantage England had after day one evaporated in the Yorkshire heat.
Josh Hazlewood bowled brilliantly to take 5-30 as Australia took control
All eyes were on Jason Roy (9) at the start of the day as the struggling opener attempted to prove he can transfer his one-day prowess into the longer format.
However, after thumping Hazlewood through the covers for four at the start of the fourth over, he chased a wide one four balls later and edged to David Warner at first slip.
Joe Root was in next but lasted only two balls before nicking a beauty from Hazlewood. Warner was the catcher again, this time holding on to a very sharp chance to his left. There was little Root could have done to such a good delivery that forced him to play before jagging away off the seam but few other England batsmen could say the same thing.
Rory Burns (9) gloved a bumper from Pat Cummins behind down leg, Ben Stokes (8) edged to Warner after throwing his bat at a rank wide delivery from James Pattinson (2-9), who then ended Denly's scratchiest of innings when the England No 4 drove needlessly and gave Tim Paine his second catch.
Denly packed a lot into his 49 balls at the crease, successfully overturning an lbw decision off Hazlewood before he got off the mark, playing and missing at 16 deliveries and edging another seven - two of which he managed to squeeze just past his leg stump.
Jonny Bairstow (4) was next to go, playing back to Hazlewood and getting an edge that went quickly to Warner, who clung on well again for his fourth catch as England limped to 54-6 at lunch.
Any hopes of a fight back ended first ball after the break when Chris Woakes (5) gloved down the legside and was caught behind off Cummins and when Jos Buttler (5) drilled the first ball of the next over to Usman Khawaja at short extra cover, England were just about done.
Jofra Archer (7) was caught behind ducking a bouncer to give Cummins (3-23) a third wicket and Hazlewood bowled Jack Leach (1) to finish the job for Australia, leaving England to contemplate their third total of under 100 in Test cricket in 2019.
There was something for the England fans to cheer as Warner went second ball in Australia's second innings, lbw to Stuart Broad, who has now dismissed him four times in the series.
With England's seamers beginning to tire after little more than a session's rest following their exertions on day one, Root turned to Leach (1-13) and the left-arm spinner struck with his first ball, a beauty that turned sharply to bowl Marcus Harris (19) through the gate as he played an extravagant drive.
Marcus Harris was bowled by Jack Leach as England looked to fight back
Khawaja (23) soon followed, taking inspiration from the England batsmen in driving at a full, wide delivery from Woakes (1-21) and edging to second slip where Roy took a good catch.
TOUR Championship 2019
East Lake Golf Club - Atlanta, GA | Par: 70 | Yardage: 7346
Purse: $46,000,000 | Defending Champion: Tiger Woods
Congratulations @steemsportss! You have completed the following achievement on the Steem blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
You can view your badges on your Steem Board and compare to others on the Steem Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPVote for @Steemitboard as a witness to get one more award and increased upvotes!
Hi! I am a robot. I just upvoted you! I found similar content that readers might be interested in:
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/warrington-vs-st-helens/preview/52090