The most undervalued title in sports since the Intertoto Cup was secured with a 38-12 win over NCL Hull FC last time out leaving Saints to use this trip and next week's visit of Castleford as preparation for the semi-final on October 4. Put that in your diary. Yes it's on Sky, no you can't use your season ticket and yes the likelihood is you'll get away with parking at Tesco. Either Warrington or Castleford will be Saints last four opponents. If the Tigers beat Wakefield tonight (Friday) it will be the Wolves honour to make the journey to St Helens.
That eventuality may leave Justin Holbrook and Wire coach Steve Price reluctant to show too much of their hand. And after several players were drafted in from outside of the named 19 by both Saints and Hull FC last week predicting how these two will line up in a dead rubber is probably the act of desperate fool. Fitting the bill and game as ever I will nonetheless have a stab.
Saints may not field quite so many of their locally produced players as featured against FC and in the win over Catalans Dragons the week previously. Ryan Morgan is back after his latest bump on the head at the expense of Matty Costello, while Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook is back under consideration following an ankle injury. Yet perhaps the most important returnee is Dom Peyroux who makes the squad for the first time since playing on against Warrington in a 14-12 win in July. The once mocked Peyroux has become a key player for Saints under the guidance of Holbrook and his return would be a very welcome one. His regular second row partner Zeb Taia missed the Hull game but is also included while James Bentley keeps his place in the squad after an outstanding Super League debut against the black and whites.
Plenty back on deck then but there is not such good news on James Roby. The England hooker has not played since the defeat to Wigan three weeks ago and seemingly will not be risked here. That could mean a start for French skipper Theo Fages. He missed out last week through illness but Holbrook suggested that he would return in his early press briefings this week. Whether he will actually start or not is another matter given the form of Morgan Knowles in recent weeks. Fages seems a better fit for the nine role but it would be no surprise to see them share duties. Aaron Smith remains out with an injury sustained on his promising debut in Perpignan. Jon Wilkin is included while front row options extend to McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Luke Thompson, Luke Thompson, Luke Douglas, Matty Lees and Jack Ashworth.
Things seem more settled in the backs where the only major absentee is Adam Swift. Ben Barba is hopefully just sleepwalking into a couple of heroic, match-winning efforts in October while Morgan should slot in alongside Mark Percival at centre with Regan Grace and Tommy Makinson out wide. Percival spoke movingly about the death of his brother this week. Saturday marked eight years since the passing of former Widnes and Leigh player Chris Percival, in particular his promise to make his brother proud by becoming a success in rugby league. Mark's current form is spellbinding but whatever happens in the remainder of his career he can be sure that he has fulfilled the promise he made already.
Jonny Lomax and Danny Richardson should continue in the halves although Fages is also an option there for Holbrook. Matty Smith is not after being left out again and has likely played his last game of a third spell at Saints after the club confirmed that he will leave the club at the end of the season. Catalans Dragons seem the likeliest destination for Smith, reuniting him with his old Wigan partner in badge-snogging Sam Tomkins.
Turning to Warrington they announced the departures of seven players today, some of whom you might even have heard of. We knew that Tyrone Roberts' stay in Warrington would be a short one but all of George King, Dom Crosby, Ben Pomeroy, Bodene Thompson and Mitch Brown will also leave along with prospect Taylor Prell. Only Roberts, Pomeroy and Thompson from that list are in the 19 this week while Kevin Brown returns. Harvey Livett may revert to the pack this week after operating in the halves alongside Declan Patton in last week's defeat to Wigan.
If Price is so inclined he could field a stronger pack than the one that faced the Warriors with Mike Cooper back from suspension and Chris Hill and Ben Murdoch-Masila in the frame after missing out last week. Ex-Wigan man Jack Hughes is out bringing to an end a run of 83 consecutive starts for the Wolves but there could be another opportunity for Luis Johnson who caught the eye at the Pie Dome. In the threequarters Tom Lineham is suspended but there are still plenty of strike options in Stefan Ratchford, Bryson Goodwin, Ryan Atkins and Josh Charnley.
A result is as difficult to predict as the line-ups for the same reasons. If Warrington are still in the hunt they may be slight favourites, though how much more appetite they will have for a semi-final trip to Wigan than a date in St Helens is questionable. Saints have a good recorc at the Haliwell Jones including a 30-16 win there earlier this year in which Richardson shone. They are undeniably weaker without Roby but arguably stronger than the last week if Peyroux, Morgan, Taia and Fages all feature. In that scenario they'll go close but may still come up just short.
Squads;
Warrington Wolves;
1. Stefan Ratchford 3. Bryson Goodwin 4. Ryan Atkins 6. Kevin Brown 7. Tyrone Roberts 8. Chris Hill. 9. Daryl Clark 10. Mike Cooper 13. Ben Murdoch-Masila 15. Declan Patton 17. Joe Philbin 18. Toby King 19. George King 20. Harvey Livett 22. Morgan Smith 24. Luis Johnson 27. Josh Charnley. 29. Ben Pomeroy 30. Bodene Thompson. 34. Ben Westwood
St Helens;
1. Jonny Lomax 2. Tommy Makinson. 3. Ryan Morgan. 4. Mark Percival. 6. Theo Fages. 10. Kyle Amor. 11. Zeb Taia. 12. Jon Wilkin. 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook. 14. Luke Douglas. 15. Morgan Knowles. 16. Luke Thompson. 17. Dominique Peyroux 18. Danny Richardson. 19. Regan Grace. 20. Matty Lees. 21. Jack Ashworth 23. Ben Barba. 24. James Bentley.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
No comments:
Post a Comment