5 Talking Points From Saints 36 Hull KR 24

Saints Survive Scare Despite Changes

This wasn’t expected to be all that close. A Saints side which had won by 30 points away at Castleford a week earlier were heavily fancied to win at home to a Rovers side coming in off the back of a 42-8 thumping by Huddersfield Giants. For most it was not a question of if Saints would beat Tim Sheens’ side but by how many. Calculators at the ready.

Yet problems in the build-up for Saints levelled the playing field a little. Mark Percival was ill the day before the game while both Zeb Taia and Alex Walmsley were omitted so that they could be at the births of their children this weekend. To add to that James Roby’s slight niggle recurred so his place went to Aaron Smith. Nobody would accuse TSBYQL of being cynical but you can’t help but wonder how it is that Roby’s slight niggles are only ever an issue when we play at home to the weaker sides in Super League.

Jack Welsby started at centre in place of Percival while Taia’s place in the second row went to James Bentley. With Smith at hooker Walmsley’s prop berth went to Matty Lees with Kyle Amor coming into the 17 on the bench. Yet it wasn’t long before that plan went out of the nearest window like Jacob Rees-Mogg’s integrity as Theo Fages left the game early with a hip problem. That saw Welsby moved into the halves alongside Jonny Lomax and Bentley switched to centre to fill the gap left by Welsby.

Saints’ right edge defence suffered in the absence of Fages to the extent that a 16-0 advantage became an 18-16 deficit by half time. Much of the second half was a battle and it had looked at one point like this one could follow the previous evening’s scrap between Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers into Golden Point extra time. That was before tries from Smith and Regan Grace finally settled the issue in favour of a relieved Saints outfit.

How Did The New Boys Do?

With so many changes to the line-up and some inexperienced players thrown in it’s instructive to take a look at how they performed. Welsby had perhaps the most difficult task, first slotting in at centre for Percival before being forced into the halves after Fages’ exit. The youngster seemed to fair better in the former than the latter, even crossing for an early try thanks to some neat passing from both Fages and Lomax. He put in a tireless defensive display with 30 tackles but there were times when he was in the halves when you got the sense he’d rather not be. Just the one attacking kick is evidence that Welsby isn’t ready for too much creative responsibility at this level. Yet his error count was low as he kept it simple. A shrewd move given that Saints have Lomax and Lachlan Coote to do the can opening.

Bentley had a tougher time at centre. His three errors are telling, but the decision making which led to Regan Grace’s first half gaffe also seemed flawed. It looked for all the world like Bentley could have strolled in for a try but instead he chose to pass to the Welshman who, seeming not to expect the ball, butchered the easiest four points he could wish for. Grace should have caught the ball and grounded it in all honesty, but perhaps he should never have been offered the opportunity. Defensively Bentley fared ok, 21 tackles with just one miss, but he seems to lack the pace of a genuine centre at this point. Let’s hope he gets a better opportunity at second row sooner rather than later.

Lees is no newcomer having played some part in most of Saints’ games this term, so what of Smith? His try was crucial, displaying a Roby-esque ability to spot an opportunity as he darted diagonally between two defenders close to the line. That was one of only five runs from dummy half and with only 56 metres made he’s a long way from having the attacking influence on a game that Roby has. Yet Smith’s tally of 40 tackles is better than any other Saint on the night. There’s nothing wrong with his work ethic.

A Chance For Danny?

One time Super League Dream Team halfback Danny Richardson didn’t play for Leigh this weekend. The Centurions took on Sheffield Eagles in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup but Saints boss Justin Holbrook wisely decided not to release any players for dual registration to avoid having them cup tied. However, it might not be long before Richardson is back in action for Saints.

He’s been left out of the side all season so far but will surely be the man to call on should Fages’ hip injury keep him out of the trip to face Catalans Dragons on Saturday (April 6). Having been first choice throughout 2018 Richardson is the obvious option to come in at halfback. A round peg for a round hole. There should be no need to be shuffling others into unfamiliar positions even if there is a sense that Lomax, Coote and Tommy Makinson could conceivably play almost anywhere. Richardson has done what has been asked of him, namely put in his best efforts for Leigh. That has resulted in some positive reviews from regular fans of the Championship side.

Having gained all the experience he needs in 2018 he should have no problems stepping into any void left by the Frenchman’s injury concerns. If things pan out for the Widnes product we could be sitting here in a month’s time asking if there is any way back into the first team for Fages. Things change quickly in rugby league.

A Big April

Saints have got out of the month of March with their unbeaten record still in tact. Holbrook’s side now have eight wins out of eight to start the 2019 season and lead the table by two points from Warrington. Steve Price’s side are one of the teams Saints face in what looks like being a very testing month of April.

First the red vee travel to Perpignan to face a Catalans Dragons side that has beaten Warrington and Leeds but also been humiliated by Salford at home this year as well as at Wigan this weekend. The league leaders also end the month with a home clash with Steve McNamara’s side. In between those two French tests are the visit of Warrington, a Good Friday trip to an improving Warriors side and a home game with current whipping boys Hull FC that comes just three days after the derby as part of the traditional Easter double header.

That little lot takes us out to the end of Round 12 by when the race for the playoff places and the League Leaders Shield should really be taking shape. Coming out unscathed in terms of figures in the loss column is the dream scenario and is certainly not something that is beyond Saints. They have looked a class above the rest of the competition when at full strength this year so far and they showed against Rovers that they are still pretty tough to beat even when shorn of some of their stars. The key for Saints is to be in this form in September and October and if that involves a dip and a loss or two between now and then we’d probably take it.

Magic Shirt - Great Initiative, terrible shirt. What else is new?

With no small amount of pomp and ceremony Saints launched their latest Magic Weekend jersey. As with previous versions the shirt is part of an initiative to promote autism awareness. All of which is a great cause and a credit to the club. They deserve all the plaudits that will come their way. What they shouldn’t expect is for every fan to fork out upwards of £50 for what is after all a fairly ugly garment.

Fans have queued up on social media to express their admiration for the new design which as ever incorporates the jigsaw piece symbolism that is synonymous with the charity. The trouble is that when you do that you immediately make the shirt look nothing like what we recognise as a Saints jersey. To combat that they’ve won brownie points among the fans for managing to include the classic Saints ‘stick man’ in the design. No doubt it will sell well which is great for the cause but the problem is that it’s too expensive to buy if you’re not sold on the design. It’s not like paying a couple of quid for a McFly record for Comic Relief.

Still while other clubs use the Magic Weekend as a lame excuse to turn out in Spider-Man pyjamas Saints should be commended on trying to ensure that some good comes out of looking bad.