Justin Holbrook’s side faced their stiffest test yet last week, on paper at least, when they travelled to the Mend-A-Hose Jungle to face Castleford Tigers. It turned out to be a somewhat gentler test than expected, with Saints running out 42-12 winners following a dominant performance which had Cas boss Daryl Powell invading the pitch to grumble at his players.
Now it is the turn of another experienced coach in Tim Sheens to try to find the winning formula against Saints. Hopes on Humberside will not be high following their 42-8 drubbing by Huddersfield Giants last time out. Rovers have won just three of their first eight matches this term, shattering some of the optimism sparked by that last gasp victory over Hull FC in the opening round. They now look more likely to have a relegation battle on their hands than they do to trouble the top five places which offer playoff spots. A trip to a red hot Saints is not really what they need right now.
Things are going frighteningly, unnervingly smoothly for Holbrook’s men. So much so that the coach is able to name yet another unchanged 19-man squad for this one. That means no place for Danny Richardson who continues to get his game time on dual registration at Leigh Centurions, though neither he nor any of the other Saints squad members who have starred for John Duffy’s side will be available for their Challenge Cup tie at Sheffield Eagles this weekend. As much as Saints’ fringe players need game time it makes absolutely no sense to allow them to be cup tied and so ineligible to play for Saints when they enter the competition in the later rounds. Saints may have continuity of selection at the moment but as many have observed it is a long old season. Expect Richardson to be required at some point along with the likes of Luke Douglas and James Bentley.
For now though Theo Fages keeps Richardson on the side-lines as he occupies the halfback berth alongside Jonny Lomax at stand-off. Behind them the increasingly brilliant Lachlan Coote is at fullback with Tommy Makinson and Regan Grace on the wings outside of centres Mark Percival and Kevin Naiqama. Coote was laughably ignored by the Man Of Steel Panel despite his excellent performance at Castleford but then they saw fit to award two points to Tigers fullback Peter Mata’utia. Goodness only knows what they are smoking but since it’s about the team it’s likely that Coote isn’t too concerned with personal accolades.
Saints pack was a big key in last week’s victory and again Alex Walmsley, James Roby and Luke Thompson should make up what is the premier front row in world rugby at the moment. Behind them are Zeb Taia and the in-form Dominique Peyroux, with Morgan Knowles locking the scrum. The once maligned Peyroux has scored four tries in his last three appearances for Saints and has been generally outstanding on the right hand edge. That is testament to both his own efforts and those of Holbrook who has moulded a player who most fans had written off a couple of years ago into one of the best second rowers in Super League on current form.
Saints bench is likely to be occupied by front rowers Jack Ashworth, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Matty Lees with back rower Joseph Paulo coming in to spell Knowles at times. Trying to change that are veteran beard-wearer and former Wakefield man Kyle Amor who has caught the eye in the limited opportunities he has had this term, and young hooker Aaron Smith. The latter has played just once this season as Roby missed the win over London three weeks ago. He is likely to have to wait a little bit longer for another opportunity such is the staggering durability of Saints’ star man at nine.
Rovers have mixed news on the injury front. Veteran meat pie collector Danny McGuire has not been ruled out completely but does not make the initial 19 because of a groin problem. He could earn a late recall if he can prove his fitness otherwise Chris Atkin and Josh Drinkwater could continue their halfback partnership. On the plus side three-quarter Ben Crooks returns along with former Leeds prop Mitch Garbutt and Coote’s former North Queensland Cowboys team-mate Kane Linnett. Front-rower Robbie Mulhern earned a call-up to the senior England squad this week but he won’t be celebrating it with an appearance at Saints as he’s still ruled out with a back injury.
Sheens can still call on plenty of experience in the shape of Craig Hall, Jimmy Keinhorst, Shaun Lunt and Weller Hauraki as well as former Saints Mose Masoe and Tommy Lee and ex-Wigan lady-killer Joel Tomkins. Yet it is probably not unkind to suggest that these are players who are not quite at the peak of their powers at present. Sheens is one of the most respected and revered coaches in the world game but is struggling to get a tune out of a squad that is made up of those mentioned who may not reach their high point again, and others like Ryan Shaw and George Lawler who still have improvement in them. For want of a better phrase it is a group that lacks finished articles. There is nobody in it who is an absolute superstar at the top of his game. The mix is just not right at the moment and things could get worse before they get better for the Robins.
The last time these two met was in early June of last year when Saints ran out comfortable 26-4 winners. Eighteen of those points were scored by men who will not be wearing the red vee this week, while only five members of Rovers’ 17 that night are likely to be on duty this time around. Rovers last win in St Helens was all the way back in 2013 when Travis Burns and Greg Eden were among the scorers in the Hull side’s 24-12 success. Saints have won five in a row against Rovers in Super League, their last defeat coming at what was then called the KC Lightstream Stadium when they went down 16-12 in March 2015.
It’s very difficult to see anything other than a Saints win in this one. Rovers are in a fair amount of disarray after the pounding they took from the Giants while Saints have been strangling teams defensively. If Castleford could only muster one legal try in 80 minutes last week and four other sides have gone entire halves of rugby without troubling the scorers against the league leaders the chances of Hull KR scoring enough points to be competitive appear slim. Look for Saints to win with something to spare but perhaps without really hitting the levels of intensity of a week ago. Saints by 24.
Squads;
St Helens;
1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Kevin Naiqama, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Regan Grace, 6. Theo Fages, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Luke Thompson, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Joseph Paulo, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 15. Morgan Knowles, 16. Kyle Amor, 17. Dom Peyroux, 19. Matty Lees, 20. Jack Ashworth, 21. Aaron Smith, 23. Lachlan Coote.
Hull KR;
Craig Hall, Ben Crooks, Jimmy Keinhorst, Ryan Shaw, Shaun Lunt, Mose Masoe, Joel Tomkins, Weller Hauraki, Mitch Garbutt, Tommy Lee, Chris Atkin, Junior Vaivai, Danny Addy, George Lawler, Kane Linnett, Josh Drinkwater, Will Oakes, Adam Rooks, Harry Bardle.
Referee: Tom Grant
No comments:
Post a Comment