Amid Saints winning start to the 2021 Super League campaign there has remained plenty of chat about the strength of their opponents. Whether of a Saints persuasion or not many fans have pointed out that none of the sides beaten by Kristian Woolf’s side over the first six rounds are those you might expect to find sniffing around the top four or five come September.
All of which has meant that despite the winning run we haven’t yet learned how Woolf’s grinding class of 21 will fare against the genuine contenders. Even a Challenge Cup tie against Leeds Rhinos hasn’t really eased our concerns or quietened the sceptics. The Rhinos might be a big deal in rugby league but their current incarnation is hardly vintage. The only team Richard Agar’s side have managed to beat this year are Chris Chester’s hapless, knee-dodging Wakefield Trinity.
This weekend might be where the real tests start for Saints. Woolf’s men have back to back clashes with Brett Hodgson’s New Kids On The Block of trophy contention Hull FC on the horizon, while a visit from Warrington Wolves lurks on the calendar for mid-June. Yet before all that, Saints attempt to get in and out of France with the goods faster than a pre-Brexit smuggler when they travel to Perpignan to take on Catalans Dragons on Saturday (May 22, kick-off 5.00pm UK time.) Woolf has revealed that Saints will travel to and from France on the day rather than spend the night in a hotel.
Woolf is in the relatively fortunate position of being able to name an unchanged 21-man squad for the trip. I say relatively because although it is useful to have continuity off the back of a 28-0 win over Salford there are still some key players missing. Tommy Makinson remains sidelined with his foot injury while forwards Matty Lees and James Bentley have more long term concerns. Lees has a broken ankle and still faces another couple of months out while Bentley’s best hope is to get back into action ahead of the playoffs after breaking his leg at Leigh on April 30.
Lying in a hospital bed hasn’t stopped the former Bradford Bulls man being linked with a move to Leeds when his contract expires at the end of the year. I’m not sure how likely that is to happen but I’m absolutely certain there will be a Facebook meltdown if it does. You get the feeling that the longer he stays out of action the more Bentley’s legend will grow. He’s a grafter with an incredible thirst for defensive work but he’s also exactly the sort of attacking player that Woolf values so highly for a reason. Very direct but about as likely to make a clean break as Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. If he goes to Headingley then don’t immediately hit your keyboard. Instead, take a deep breath, remember what it felt like to lose Gary Connolly to Wigan and the world won’t seem such a terrible place.
If the 21 hasn’t changed there’s half a chance that the match day 17 won’t either. Lachlan Coote is now firmly ensconced in the fullback role again after missing the start of the season through injury while Kevin Naiqama has been the one shifted over to fill the Makinson-shaped hole on the right wing. That allows Grand Final hero Jack Welsby to hold down one centre spot alongside Mark Percival with Regan Grace on the left wing.
The same 17 would mean no place again for Lewis Dodd. Jonny Lomax and Theo Fages are clearly Woolf’s preferred halfbacks for now but Dodd has not even been afforded a spot on the bench in the last two. Aaron Smith has been recalled instead after he also went through a spell when it looked like Woolf may have decided to move on from him. Dodd has plenty of time on his side and with suggestions that Fages may head to Huddersfield his time may arrive next year. By the same token 19-year old Dodd would benefit from game time in the meantime. If Woolf’s policy of not selecting Dodd continues a loan spell starts to look a little less crazy.
The back division might not look exactly as we would like it at present but it is not being tasked too much by the Woolf game plan and as such is perfectly up to the job. There are perhaps a few softer spots in the front row where Alex Walmsley has reached indispensable status since the departure of Luke Thompson and the injury to Lees. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Kyle Amor do a serviceable job but don’t look like title-winning back-ups any more. Agnatius Paasi has had a big impact in some games but is still settling in after his move from New Zealand Warriors. In the back row the same can be said for Joel Thompson after his arrival from Manly and the somewhat more dynamic Sione Mata’utia. Behind them Morgan Knowles has returned which is a massive boost to an already miserly defence. Yet like Bentley, Knowles is not a particularly creative presence. A lot of the guile up front is still provided by James Roby. May he never, ever retire. Joe Batchelor is enjoying his best run of games since joining Saints from York City Knights in 2019 and will hope to keep his place on the bench.
Outside of that little lot Josh Simm, Dan Norman and Ben Davies will hope to find a way in but may find the door shut for the time being.
The Dragons have made a largely positive start to the Super League campaign. Steve McNamara’s side had been underwhelming in league and cup defeats to Warrington but wins over Wakefield and Hull since have them as high as third in the table. That 24-8 reverse to Warrington on April 24 remains their only loss in the league in 2021.
McNamara welcomes former Wigan prop Gil Dudson back into his 21-man squad in place of Jason Baitieri. St Helens-born Matt Whitley is a high profile absentee so Benjamin Jullien may continue to partner one-time England man Mike McMeeken in the second row. Dudson could yet feature in an all ex-Wigan front row alongside Joel Tomkins and Mickey McIlorum. Benjamin Garcia skippers the side at loose forward, while Sam Kasiano is an often monstrous if a little indisciplined impact player.
The main men in the back division are Sam Tomkins at fullback and James Maloney at half. The latter’s combination with Josh Drinkwater can sometimes splutter and there are times when Maloney looks as though he might not be in France for the rugby. Yet all three possess match-winning abilities and will be key to the Dragons hopes of breaking down Saints vault-like defence. If they can get the service the outside backs are handy too. Tom Davies is another ex-Wiganer who can point to having already bagged six tries this year. Only Jake Bibby and Ryan Hall have more. On the opposite side Fouad Yaha is an absolute tank who will give Naiqama all he can handle defensively. Dean Whare and Samisoni Langi fill the centre spots following the failed experiment with LGBT spokesman Israel Folau.
Despite a dizzying array of talent on both sides most observers are not expecting a wide open contest. Both coaches are risk averse. This game represents a step up in the quality of opposition for both so it would be odd to choose this week to open up. As much as I’d like to see an expansive game the more likely outcome is another hard fought ‘energy battle’ which Saints are likely to win by a couple of scores. Saints by 10.
Squads;
Catalans Dragons:
1. Arthur Mourgue 2. Tom Davies 3. Samisoni Langi 4.Dean Whare 5. Fouad Yaha 6. James Maloney 7.Josh Drinkwater 8. Gil Dudson 9. Micky McILorum10. Julian Bousquet 12. Mike McMeeken 13. Benjamin Garcia 14. Alrix Da Costa 15. Benjamin Jullien 17.Mickael Goudemand 20. Matthieu Laguerre 22. Joel Tomkins 27. Joe Chan 28. Sam Kasiano 29. Sam Tomkins 30. Jordan Dezaria
St Helens;
1, Lachlan Coote 3. Kevin Naiqama 4, Mark Percival 5. Regan Grace 6. Jonny Lomax 7. Theo Fages 8. Alex Walmsley 9. James Roby 11. Joel Thompson 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Sione Mata’utia 15. LMS 16. Kyle Amor 17. Agnatius Paasi 18. Jack Welsby 19. Aaron Smith 20. Joe Batchelor 21. Lewis Dodd 22. Josh Simm 25. Dan Norman 29. Ben Davies.
Referee: Robert Hicks
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