Unbeaten Saints face one of Super League’s simpler tasks on paper when they travel to face newly promoted Leigh Centurions on Friday night (April 30, kick-off 6.00pm).
To paraphrase Brian Clough they don’t play on paper. But Leigh haven’t been faring all that well on grass either. A spirited display against Wigan in their opener ended in a narrow 20-18 defeat turned out to be the highlight so far for John Duffy’s men who have since been hammered by Warrington and Castleford before being comfortably beaten by Salford Red Devils last time out. Meanwhile Saints have rarely been eye-catching but nor have they been all that troubled in opening victories over Salford, Hull KR, Wakefield Trinity and Huddersfield Giants.
Saints coach Kristian Woolf has made two changes to the 21-man squad which he selected for the Giants game a week ago. Tommy Makinson is back in contention after missing out against Ian Watson’s side with a foot injury. His inclusion would be a huge boost for any side but Woolf has warned that if there is any risk involved the England winger will not play. That seems a sensible policy in a game Saints are expected to win with something to spare and with another 20 regular season rounds ahead before the playoffs begin. There will be times when the need to have Makinson on board is much greater.
Makinson has replaced Joel Thompson in the squad, while the other change sees young centre Ben Davies comes in for Tom Nisbet. Thompson will miss his first game since making the switch to Saints from Manly Sea Eagles after picking up a foot injury. Morgan Knowles is back in training but not yet ready to go so Saints back row could be set for a reshuffle. Joe Batchelor was not selected last week after starting against Wakefield and could come back into contention. James Bentley, Sione Mata’utia and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook are the others most likely to see action in that area, along with Jake Wingfield although he has been putting in shifts at hooker in relief of James Roby with Aaron Smith still mystifyingly absent from Woolf’s radar. Smith is again in the 21 but has not been involved since the Round 2 win over Rovers.
McCarthy-Scarsbrook may also see some action at prop following the hugely disappointing news that Matty Lees will be out for around 10 weeks following surgery on a broken ankle. Lees limped out of the Challenge Cup win over Leeds on April 10 inside the first 10 minutes and further investigations have revealed the extent of the problem. It’s a savage blow for Lees whose career has already been interrupted by a perforated bowel and who had just begun to establish himself as a starter now that Luke Thompson and James Graham are not around. With Lees out the other prop options are the towering presence that is Alex Walmsley, veteran Kyle Amor and the exciting former New Zealand Warrior Agnatius Paasi.
The selection decisions in the backs depend greatly on the fitness or otherwise of Makinson. If he is in then he, opposite winger Regan Grace and fullback Lachlan Coote are lock-ins for their positions. The dilemma will be around which of Jack Welsby, Mark Percival and Kevin Naiqama are left out of that back five. Welsby’s form at left centre almost demands inclusion. He has been a shining light in an often redundant three-quarter line this year. Percival seems to be on an NBA-style minutes restriction as he works his way back from injury which would seem to indicate that he will start and possibly be withdrawn in the second half as he was in the win over the Giants. All of which leaves Naiqama looking more vulnerable than he has at any time since he arrived at Saints from Wests Tigers in 2019. The Fijian is in the final year of a three-year deal and Welsby’s rapid rise and versatility could be about to hasten his exit.
The only remaining question is in the halves where my drum gets increasingly worn from being relentlessly beaten in support of some more game time at halfback for Lewis Dodd. It is unlikely to happen, and if it does my guess is that it will be Jonny Lomax and not Theo Fages who makes way given the Centurions hybrid, not-quite-real-grass surface and the wear and tear on Lomax’s knees over the last decade.
To add to their problems Leigh have a host of regulars not available for this one. An already brittle squad will be tested further by the absence of the supremely mulleted Blake Wallace, influential prop Adam Sidlow, halves Joe Mellor and Jamie Ellis and NRL import Brendan Elliot. Since Leigh upset Saints in Makinson’s testimonial game in March Duffy has added the talented but troubled former Wigan and Warrington centre Anthony Gelling, former South Sydney Rabbitohs, Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans hooker Nathan Peats and will have former Wigan henchman Ben Flower available. Josh Simm is on loan at Leigh from Saints but will not face his parent club.
Along with Gelling and Flower Matty Russel, Tyrone McCarthy and Lewis Tierney have Grand Final experience. Their know how and that of other experienced campaigners like Junior S’au should start to help turn the Leigh ship around at some point. Just don’t expect it to be this week. Ryan Brierley is another exciting player who hasn’t quite reached the very peak of the game but is always capable of doing something special. Leigh’s biggest problem will be their tendency to run out of steam. A pack featuring Nathaniel Peteru, Alex Gerrard and Matty Gee doesn’t look favourite against Saints relentless physicality and superior fitness, even without both Lees and Thompson.
Having said all that Saints attack has been fairly dysfunctional this year, so I’m not expecting any unusual scorelines. It is more likely that Leigh will hang in the game for a time before Saints start to overwhelm them. Saints by 24.
Squads;
Leigh Centurions;
1. Ryan Brierley 2. Matty Russell 3. Iain Thornley 4. Junior Sa’u 5. Lewis Tierney 8. Ben Flower 9. Liam Hood 10. Mark Ioane 11. Ben Hellewell 12. Jordan Thompson 13. James Bell 14. Matty Wildie 15. Alex Gerrard 16. Nathaniel Peteru 18. Matty Gee 19. Nathan Mason 21. Tyrone McCarthy 22. Craig Mullen 26. Nathan Peats 30. Ben Reynolds 32. Anthony Gelling
St Helens;
1, Lachlan Coote, 2, Tommy Makinson, 3. Kevin Naiqama, 4, Mark Percival, 5. Regan Grace, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Theo Fages, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 12, James Bentley, 14. Sione Mata’utia, 15. LMS, 16. Kyle Amor, 17, Agnatius Paasi, 18. Jack Welsby, 19, Aaron Smith, 20, Joe Batchelor, 21. Lewis Dodd, 23. Jake Wingfield, 25. Dan Norman, 29. Ben Davies.
Referee: Marcus Griffiths
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