For obvious reasons documented ceaselessly on social and mainstream media the rugby league off-season has run a little longer than usual. At the time of writing it is 105 days since Jack Welsby wrote a thrilling chapter in the game’s history by scoring that late Grand Final winner. It is high-time we had some action.
Relief is imminent. The NRL got under way this week and the Super League action kicks off in a fortnight. In preparation for an assault on a third straight Super League title Saints host Leigh Centurions in Tommy Makinson’s testimonial match this Saturday (March 13, kick-off 6.00pm).
Since this isn’t quite the serious stuff yet coach Kristian Woolf has been able to name a 28-man squad. Only fullback Lachlan Coote and back rower Joe Batchelor miss out after picking up minor knocks in training this week. Both are expected to be fit for the Round 1 clash with Salford Red Devils on March 26.
Welsby is one of the candidates to replace Coote in the number 1 role from the start of this one. Jonny Lomax is another, which would allow Lewis Dodd to get valuable game time in the halves. After making his first team debut in 2020 hopes are high that Dodd can become a regular in the next couple of seasons. What that would mean for Theo Fages is unclear though there are those who would still like to see the Frenchman move into the hooking role in preparation for that day we all dread when the credits roll on James Roby’s career. For now the legend continues with Aaron Smith and Josh Eaves vying to be first to fill in.
Mark Percival missed a huge chunk of last season through injury but is now fit to take his place in the squad. While he has been away both Welsby and Josh Simm have enhanced their reputations and could create genuine competition for the spot. Percival is still a class act but after a torrid time with injuries will be looking to re-establish his authority.
Regan Grace will start most often outside Percival on the left wing. The Welshman has become one of the stars of the league in the last four years but the lack of depth behind him is one of the areas of concern in the squad since Adam Swift’s move to Hull FC. On the opposite edge man of the moment Makinson is a certainty when fit as is Fijian centre Kevin Naiqama on his inside.
It is in the pack where Saints will look markedly different. James Graham and Zeb Taia have retired while Dominique Peyroux is now in Toulouse. Or wherever it is that Toulouse play this week. In come Tongan Agnatius Paasi from New Zealand Warriors and Dan Norman from London Broncos to compete with Alex Walmsley, Matty Lees, Kyle Amor and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook for places in the front row. The long established second row pairing of Taia and Peyroux have been replaced by Joel Thompson from Manly Sea Eagles and Sione Mata’utia from Newcastle Knights, though James Bentley still has a strong case for inclusion after finally edging out Peyroux in 2020. Morgan Knowles will continue to offer his indefatigable combination of punishing defence and carrying out all of the tasks that are rugby league’s equivalent to mucking out down at the yard.
With such a sizeable squad available there is enough room for youngsters Jake Wingfield, Tom Nisbet, Matty Foster and Nico Rizelli - all of whom made their senior debuts in 2020 - and 21 year-old back rower Sam Royle who has yet to feature in the first team.
There are a few notable absentees from the Leigh squad as they prepare for another crack at the top flight. I’m sure we’ll all miss the presence of unbalanced, past-whatever-his-best-was 2014 Grand Final villain Ben Flower while winger Lewis Tierney is another former employee of the club from the town who gave us Limahl that will not feature. Fellow new recruits James Bell, Brendan Elliot and Tyrone McCarthy will also sit this one out. Bell is a centre who has been playing for Toulouse in the Championship after a stint with New Zealand Warriors while Elliot also plays in the back division and can list Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights, Gold Coast Titans and Manly Sea Eagles among his former clubs.
So, plenty of quality on the sideline for Leigh but they still can call on plenty of talent. Ryan Brierley and Jamie Ellis are back from Hull KR while former Grand Finalist Matty Russell and the once highly-rated halfback Joe Mellor are among four recruits from Toronto Wolfpack. Junior S’au is an experienced Super League centre and Nathaniel Peteru will hope to establish himself as a Super League force after underwhelming spells with Leeds and Hull KR. Liam Hood captains the side this year and will no doubt lean on others with top flight experience like Alex Gerrard, Adam Sidlow, Iain Thornley and Jordan Thompson.
Ten years at one club is an all too rare occurrence in today’s game so their ought to be an air of celebration on the night, even though fans can only be a part of it via their Our League stream. Saints will be fancied for a win too, though the need to use this one run out as preparation for the real thing makes it difficult to predict how either Woolf or Centurions coach John Duffy will use their squads.
The result is not hugely important but anything other than a comfortable Saints win will no doubt break the internet. I expect a win, but isn’t it just enough for now that actual live rugby league is back in our living rooms? Saints by 18.
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