A rather more familiar Saints outfit looks set to take on Salford Red Devils on Friday night (April 29, kick-off 8.00pm).
The changes made by coach Kristian Woolf ahead of last week’s defeat at Castleford are well documented. Despite suggestions that he may give the young prospects another game only eight days before a Challenge Cup semi-final only two of last week’s seven debutants retain their place in the 21-man squad for the visit of Paul Rowley’s men. Jumah Sambou featured on the wing at Castleford while Daniel Hill started at centre and moved to fullback when Jon Bennison was ruled out with a fractured cheekbone. The unfortunate Bennison now faces a spell on the sidelines after only recently establishing himself in the first team in the absence of Regan Grace. Both Sambou and Hill are retained but all of Lewis Baxter, George Delaney, Daniel Moss, Taylor Pemberton and McKenzie Buckley drop out along with Shay Martyn.
The major headline from Woolf’s selection is the return to the fold of Sione Mata’utia. The former Newcastle Knight had been one of Saints’ top performers in the early part of the season but has been out injured since the win over Warrington on March 11. If he is to be in contention for the cup meeting with Wigan at Elland Road he desperately needs a tune-up.
The same could be said for Grace but unfortunately the Welshman hasn’t made it this week. Grace’s only appearance for Saints in 2022 so far was the Challenge Cup win over Whitehaven on March 26. Bennison has been doing a fine job in his place, perhaps surprisingly ousting Josh Simm from that spot after a disappointing defeat in Toulouse. With that in mind it is particularly unfortunate for him to pick up an injury now. Simm will hope to be handed an opportunity to re-establish his claims for a regular spot in the squad.
Along with Mata’utia Saints welcome back Tommy Makinson, Will Hopoate, Mark Percival, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor and Agnatius Passi into the squad. Morgan Knowles is also clear to return after missing the last two on account of a head injury picked up early in the win over Wigan on Good Friday (April 22). Curtis Sironen and Konrad Hurrell are both serving the second of their two game bans following incidents against Huddersfield and Wigan respectively. James Bell is also out having picked up a two-match ban of his own for a late hit at Castleford. With Bell and Sironen banned and Jake Wingfield injured Mata’utia’s return is all the more timely. Sam Royle is included again and is another back row option.
Woolf has suggested this week that the halfback combination we see in this one will be the one he intends to use going forward with Lewis Dodd out for the year with an Achilles problem. That new combination will almost certainly feature Lomax, but there are options when it comes to his partner. Woolf chose to use Roby at halfback at Huddersfield and may do so again. Yet if Hopoate is fit he could slot in at fullback allowing Jack Welsby to slip into the halves alongside Lomax. Along with Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook Welsby was included in the initial 21 for the trip to Castleford but was not named in the match day 17.
Ben Davies - ordinarily a centre - filled in at six last week and did a pretty admiral job. He deservedly retains his place among Woolf’s options this week also. He has a chance of an appearance too. With Grace, Bennison and Hurrell out and Hopoate possibly moved to fullback there may be a vacancy in the three-quarter line where only Tommy Makinson and Mark Percival seem automatic selections.
If Woolf persists with Roby at 7 then Joey Lussick should be fit enough to play despite hobbling out of the action midway through the second half last week. Walmsley and Lees should be restored to their starting prop roles with Paasi adding impact off the bench. McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Kyle Amor will look for minutes in that area too.
Such has been the physical impact of the Easter programme Rowley is only able to name 20 players for his initial squad. Among the absentees are Ryan Brierley, Tim Lafai, Joe Burgess, Marc Sneyd, Shane Wright, James Greenwood, Elijah Taylor, Harvey Livett and Dan Sarginson. That’s a whole lot of quality without which to travel to the home of the champions and expect to come away with a win.
Salford do boast the league’s second top try scorer in Ken Sio. Only Wigan’s Jai Field has more league four-pointers this term than the ex-Hull KR man. His latest effort was a length of the field interception which got the Red Devils right back into the game at Wigan last time out. Rowley’s side ultimately lost out by six points to the Warriors but only after Field took Morgan Escare’s bizarre drop-goal attempt from the half way line and waltzed through a tired defence which had neglected to chase.
Aside from Sio Rhys Williams is a constant threat on the opposite wing while former Saint Matty Costello and ex-Leeds Rhino King Vuniyayawa were both in try-scoring form a week ago. It will be interesting to see how much more tactical responsibility is shouldered by Brodie Croft in the absence of Sneyd and his much revered kicking game. Croft is yet to really catch fire since his move from Brisbane Broncos in the off season. In mitigation he is playing in a side which has won just three of its first 10 league outings. Salford’s last win was a 26-12 success over Leeds Rhinos on March 18, since when they have suffered six-point defeats to Wigan and Wakefield but gone down more convincingly to Warrington and Catalans. Croft is likely to be partnered in the creative department by the exciting if a shade inconsistent Chris Atkin.
Rowley’s side doesn’t look to have the power up front to cope with Wamsley, Roby et al. Men like Greg Burke, Danny Addy, Alex Gerrard and Andy Ackers have experience and nous but not the explosiveness to trouble Saints’ pack. What explosiveness there is may very well go off in the shape of ex-Warrington shoulder barger Sitaleki Akauola. With Taylor out much will rely on this group which also features Jack Ormondroyd and former Leeds and England star Kallum Watkins.
Only Toulouse have conceded more points than Salford in Super League so far this year. That doesn’t bode well for any team going to St Helens who come in with seven or eight stars refreshed from a week off. Nor does it compare favourably to Saints’ defensive prowess. Despite nodding off a little since Good Friday Woolf’s side still boast the league’s best defensive record and are still only conceding at an average of 9.6 points per game.
If Salford can’t keep opponents out they have fared a little better at the attacking end. They have scored more points this term than either Catalans or Hull FC, both of whom currently reside in the top four. Yet the Red Devils average of 20 points per game is not a match for Saints, once again leading the way in Super League with 258 points from their 10 league outings so far at an average of 25.8 points per game.
Saints minds may naturally wander to next week’s semi-final, particularly late in the game if it is no longer close. Yet this is unlikely to offer too much encouragement to a Salford side lying ninth in the table and significantly depleted coming in. The Red Devils may go on to prove that they are in a false position once their absent players return, but their rehabilitation is unlikely to start this week. Saints by 16.
Squads;
St Helens;
1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Will Hopoate, 4. Mark Percival, 6. Jonny Lomax, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 12. Joe Batchelor, 13, Morgan Knowles, 14. Joey Lussick, 15. LMS, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 18. Kyle Amor, 21. Josh Simm, 22. Ben Davies, 24. Dan Norman, 26. Sam Royle, 29. Danny Hill, 30. Jumah Sambou.
Salford Red Devils;
2 Ken Sio 3 Kallum Watkins 6 Brodie Croft 8 Sitaleki Akauola 9 Andy Ackers 10 Greg Burke 14 Danny Addy 15 King Vuniyayawa 16 Ryan Lannon 18 Chris Atkin 19 Jack Ormondroyd 20 Jack Wells 21 Josh Johnson 22 Rhys Williams 24 Matt Costello 25 Morgan Escare 27 Amir Bourouh 28 Deon Cross 29 Alex Gerrard 31 Myles Dalton-Harrop
Referee: Chris Kendall
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