Attention switches temporarily away from Super League this weekend as Saints take on Huddersfield Giants at Headingley for a place in the last four of the Challenge Cup (May 7, kick-off 8.15pm).
It has been 13 long years since Saints captured the trophy, a startling statistic when you consider that they have won three Super League titles and appeared in seven Grand Finals since their last Wembley win. The closest they have been was an 18-4 defeat to Warrington at the national stadium in 2019. It’s fair to say we’re overdue.
Coach Kristian Woolf has made two changes to his 21-man squad on the back of last week’s unconvincing 22-12 Super League win at Leigh Centurions. Both are forced to a degree, with a shoulder injury ruling out Jake Wingfield who had made his first competitive Saints start at Leigh Sports Village. He joins the unfortunate James Bentley in missing out after it was confirmed in the week that the former Bradford Bulls second row suffered a broken leg and ankle damage in the final moments of the clash with John Duffy’s men.
The good news is that Woolf is able to include Morgan Knowles for the first time this season. The Cumbrian has been missing with a thumb injury which required surgery. Woolf has stressed that he will not take any risks with Knowles’ long term fitness but if he is available it would go some way to solving some of the issues caused by Bentley’s absence. That’s because Joel Thompson also returns after missing out at Leigh with a foot injury. He and Sione Mata’utia could fill the second row spots with Knowles slotting back in to his customary loose forward role. Should Knowles not make it then look for Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook or Joe Batchelor to see action in the back row. McCarthy-Scarsbrook has been starting at prop in the absence of Matty Lees, with Alex Walmsley and James Roby completing the front row. Kyle Amor and Agnatius Paasi add impact from the bench.
Also set for a return is talismanic England winger Tommy Makinson. He has missed the last two outings with a foot injury but is again named in the squad. He looks more likely to play this week which will create an interesting selection decision for Woolf in the back line. Lachlan Coote and Regan Grace are regulars in their roles but with Makinson back on board that leaves only two spots in the back five to be filled between Jack Welsby, Mark Percival and Kevin Naiqama. Welsby looks the most in-form of that trio, but you can make a case for either one of the other two. Percival made several errors against Leigh and looks short of his best on his return from another injury setback. Naiqama is arguably not as solid defensively. There are doubts about both, but equally both can be devastating if they find their best form.
There ought to be a decision to make in the halves too, but it remains unlikely that Lewis Dodd will oust Theo Fages from his position alongside Jonny Lomax. Meanwhile Grace offered cause for optimism and concern in equal measure this week by penning a new deal with the club to the end of 2022. It’s clearly a boost to get one of our most potent attacking weapons on board for a bit longer but the limited length of the contract points towards the possibility that the Welshman sees his long term future elsewhere. It has been suggested in more than just whispers that there is interest in Grace from the other code. And as dull and boring as that sport is it is unrealistic to expect it not to appeal given the greater riches, higher profile and more regular access to international competition it offers.
Dodd is more likely to see action off the bench at hooker to give Roby a breather. Aaron Smith is included in the selection but he is finding it increasingly difficult to make the match day 17 under Woolf. Along with Dan Norman and Ben Davies he will hope for better this week.
The Giants have had a slow start to the league campaign but have been rapidly improving. They managed their first league win of 2021 with a one-point success over Leeds Rhinos last time out. That came thanks largely to 13 points from halfback Aidan Sezer before former Saint Lee Gaskell slotted over the winning drop goal. Those two along with former Canterbury Bulldog Jack Cogger are forming a burgeoning creative understanding for the Giants. Complimenting them are England star Jermaine McGillvary, the hugely talented and versatile Darnell McIntosh and the ex-Melbourne centre Ricky Leutele.
Up front coach Ian Watson can call on three more ex-Saints in Josh Jones, Joe Greenwood and Jack Ashworth. Jones is a key man but Greenwood only returned from suspension for the Leeds game following his dismissal in the loss to Catalans Dragons a month ago. Ashworth has struggled to establish himself since making the move to West Yorkshire and will again do well to be selected ahead of the likes of Matty English, Luke Yates and James Gavet. In the back row Chris McQueen, Kenny Edwards, Michael Lawrence and Jones are among Watson’s options. Adam O’Brien and James Cunningham offer a decent one-two punch at hooker.
These teams met in the Super League a fortnight ago, with Saints edging the Giants 18-10. It was another distinctly Saints 2021 performance, really solid in defence but lacking any real variety of ideas in attack. There is a sense among many Saints fans that the performances are of no consequence provided the team continues to win. Yet for how long will they continue to eek out results playing in this tired, stale fashion? It is a philosophy which relies heavily on the ability to keep the opponent out. The fear is that a defensive off day could land Woolf’s side in trouble. This week - the week when the stakes are higher in a win or go home clash - would not be a good time to experience that defensive off day.
I’m still optimistic that Saints defence will carry them through, but this does not look set to be a classic. Don’t expect them to light up the scoreboard but for this week any sort of win really will do. It’s been far too long since that last Wembley win.
Squads;
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, 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, 25. Dan Norman, 29. Ben Davies.
Huddersfield Giants;
2. Jermaine McGillvary 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Darnell McIntosh 6. Lee Gaskell 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Luke Yates sponsored 9. Adam O’Brien 10. Michael Lawrence 11. Kenny Edwards 13. Josh Jones sponsored 14. Matty English 15. Joe Greenwood 16. Jack Cogger 17. Chris McQueen 18. Jack Ashworth 19. James Cunningham 20. Oliver Wilson 21. Leroy Cudjoe 22. James Gavet 25. Owen Trout 27. Sam Wood
Referee: James Child
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