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MATCH PREVIEW | Rhinos and Saints clash this Saturday in Super 4s

With one win under their belt in the Betfred Women's Super League Super 4s campaign, Leeds Rhinos Women can continue a current seven-game winning streak when they take on St Helens Women on Saturday afternoon at The BrewDog Stadium, kick of 2pm.

Victory over York Valkyrie last Saturday saw Lois Forsell's side stay within two points of league leaders Wigan, but they face a Saints side who are not only aiming to bounce back from defeat to the Warriors in their opening Super 4s game, but also remain in the race for the League Leaders' Shield.

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Opposition

Eager to avoid the gap between them and the Rhinos growing to six points, St Helens Women are aiming to overturn their loss to Leeds from earlier in the campaign and get their first win of the Super 4s season on home soil this Saturday.

Long-term club coaches Derek Hardman and Craig Richards have headed up the Red Vee's attempt to return to silverware, but after losing out at Wembley two months ago, the side need a result on Saturday to begin to close the gap on the top two spots and keep themselves in the Shield race and for a potential home semi-final.

The side's regular season saw them only lose out to top four rivals Leeds and Wigan in back-to-back games as Saints have mostly brushed aside their opposition. After qualifying for the Challenge Cup Final with wins against Huddersfield Giants, Catalans Dragons, Barrow Raiders and Leeds during the opening games of the season, the club took little time getting their league campaign off to a similar start as the Raiders were on the end of another blowout scoreline of a 42-6 win. A tighter affair at the LNER Community Stadium needed a late try from top scorer Dani McGifford to steal an 18-14 final score, before Huddersfield came out fighting in an eventual 28-20 loss on the road against the Red Vee following their Cup Final defeat.

The Rhinos and Warriors both stopped the club's winning run in round five - Leeds getting their first league win against Saints since the dramatic 2023 semi-final win - but Saturday's home side did manage to muster one final result to send themselves into the Super 4s with winning momentum. As one of a number of Academy talents to break into the first team this season, full back Olivia Leach and star winger Phoebe Hook recorded hat tricks to bring home a 58-6 win over Leigh in the regular season finale. Luci McColm was the sole try scorer against Wigan last Thursday night in a 44-6 loss at the hands of Wigan, but the Red Vee have two weeks to turn the result around as they face the Rhinos before travelling to face Wigan again in round three. Heading into September, back-to-back games against York Valkyrie await before a final clash of the competition with Leeds at AMT Headingley could be the dress rehearsal for this year's semi-final matchup.

McGifford's 10 league tries have contributed to a wider 16-try season for the winger as she looks to better last year's tally of 22 scores, plus a back line of Leach, Hook, Rachael Woosey, Leah Burke and Amy Hardcastle have a combined 26 tries between them. England international forward Vicky Whitfield not only has six tries to her name but is also one of five players to play 12 out of 13 games this year - alongside Woosey, Caitlin Casey, Jodie Cunningham and Erin McDonald. Stalwart Faye Gaskin continues to be confident with the boot as she has 47 conversions and 114 points this year.