Saints return to the scene of one of 2022’s rare dark days when they visit the AJ Bell Stadium to take on Salford Red Devils on Sunday afternoon (August 6, kick-off 3.00pm).
Amid another all-conquering season the champions were undone 44-12 by the Red Devils who turned out to be the season’s surprise package. Paul Rowley’s side went on to reach the semi-finals where they ran into Saints again. The result was somewhat different on that occasion.
Now they meet with both in contention for - but by no means guaranteed - a place in this year’s end of season playoffs. Saints sit fourth in the table, eight points behind leaders Catalans Dragons but with two games in hand after the French side handed Warrington their latest humiliation to start the weekend. Sitting in between the Dragons and Saints are Wigan and Leigh in second and third respectively. It’s a very close race this year. The quality might not always be the highest but there is plenty of excitement and jeopardy around in 2023.
Salford currently find themselves just one place out of the 6, two points behind both Wembley-bound Hull KR and the free-falling basket case that is Warrington. The Wolves’ recent run of results saw the end of Daryl Powell’s reign. They remain coach-less having made a worrying but ultimately hilariously unsuccessful attempt to convince Saints legend Justin Holbrook to come back over to the UK.
In a strange quirk the Wolves actually moved up a place to fifth despite their loss to Steve McNamara’s side. That is because Rovers coach Willie Peters took the decision to rest his players for the trip to Wigan ahead of the Challenge Cup final. The Robins took a 64-6 battering at the DW and laid waste to their points difference in the process. Were Powell still around he might have told the Wire fans that it had been a successful night on that alone.
Rowley’s side have so far failed to take advantage of the misadventures of those immediately above them. They have lost their last five Super League games. Their last win was at Castleford on June 9. And let’s be fair, everyone except Leeds beats Castleford. The Red Devils have been pounded by Wakefield Trinity during that run and last time out were swatted away 42-0 by the Dragons. It might be a good time to go to Salford.
Yet Paul Wellens’ side will go without several of their star turns. Alex Walmsley and Agnatius Paasi were lost for the year during the Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by Leigh, while Joe Batchelor, Jon Bennison, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jake Wingfield and now Konrad Hurrell are all on the injury list. Sione Mata’utia is serving the second of a two-game suspension for a late hit on Ben Reynolds in the cup exit to the Leopards.
There is some good news for the Saints coach. Curtis Sironen returns to the initial 21 having not played since the 34-6 defeat at Hull in June. If he is fit he should slot back into the second row alongside James Bell with Morgan Knowles at loose forward. If Sironen doesn’t make it then look for Sam Royle to continue after starting last week’s 22-18 home win over Leeds Rhinos.
Walmsley’s role should again be filled by youngster George Delaney. He made a first ever first team start against the Rhinos and looks favourite to slot in to the front row alongside Matty Lees and celebrated RL legend James Roby at hooker. If there is an issue in the the front row it is in the strength of those who can fill in from the bench. Dan Norman finally has a crucial part to play while Roby’s rest periods will be facilitated by new signing Moses Mbye. He made a steady debut against Leeds.
The only other potential hooker in the squad is Jake Burns. The 20 year-old is included for the first time after making 20 appearances for the reserves. He appears to have jumped the queue ahead of Taylor Pemberton who has been allowed to go on loan to York Knights.
The loss of Hurrell is a further blow in an injury ravaged period of the season. Wellens explained this week that the Tongan centre will be out for around four weeks with a calf injury. Mark Percival is included but his presence in the 21 before the Leeds game did not translate to his arrival on the pitch. He has missed the last two since picking up a head knock in the defeat by the Dragons on July 13. Wellens has talked up the centre’s chances of playing this week but it would shock nobody if the notoriously disruptive concussion issues he has been having keep him out again.
If that happens we will probably see Ben Davies alongside the in-form Will Hopoate. The latter’s spell at the club hasn’t exactly been glittering but his improvement in recent weeks is extremely timely. Wesley Bruines is included but it would be a genuine surprise if he were to finally make that long awaited debut this week. Bennison’s absence leaves Tee Ritson unchallenged for the left wing role opposite the experience and quality of Tommy Makinson.
Jack Welsby was decisively brilliant at times against the Rhinos without ever really convincing as a natural 80-minute fullback. Yet he should continue there with Jonny Lomax and Lewis Dodd occupying the halfback roles.
Rowley can welcome back some of the big keys to his side’s excellent form of a year ago. Marc Sneyd’s kicking game should make a huge difference while Rowley can also welcome back Samoan international centre Tim Lafai, multiple Grand Final winner Kallum Watkins and Danny Addy. Prop Brad Singleton was signed from Wigan recently in a deal which saw Tyler Dupree join the Sith Warriors. The former Leeds man is included in the 21 for the first time.
Of those not on duty Shane Wright is arguably the biggest miss. At a time when all of the talk has been about players leaving the Red Devils the former North Queensland Cowboy has signed a new three-year deal with the club. Yet for now his place in the second row will probably be taken by former Saint Andrew Dixon or ex-Leigh man Ben Hellewell alongside ex-Newcastle Knight and Gold Coast Titan Sam Stone. Former Wigan grub Oliver Partington operates at loose forward. Alex Gerrard and Adam Sidlow both miss out.
Lafai should stroll back into the three-quarter line at the expense of another one time Saint in Matty Costello. There is pace and skill aplenty in that department with the prolific Ken Sio and ex-Wigan, South Sydney and Sydney Roosters flyer Joe Burgess as well as Lafai. Along with centre Deon Cross and fullback Ryan Brierley they should all enjoy a step up in service with Sneyd reunited with reigning Steve Prescott Man Of Steel Brodie Croft in the halves.
The teams have already met once this season. Salford’s latest attempt to break a 40+ year winless streak in this town was back in May. Tries from Makinson, Lomax, Batchelor, Sironen and Bell helped Saints to a 26-12 win in the game which saw Roby become Saints all-time record appearance maker. The skipper turned out for the 532nd time to move ahead of Kel Coslett’s mark. Roby currently sits on 541 with eight league games and a possible three playoff games remaining before his expected retirement at the end of the year. He could still make 550. Although his record might not last much more than a decade if it is announced in September 2036 that McCarthy-Scarsbrook has signed another one-year contract.
Despite their dominance of this fixture at home fortunes have been more mixed for Saints at Salford down the years. The beating they endured last year also saw the end of Regan Grace’s Saints career. An Achilles injury robbed the Welshman of a glorious end to his farewell season before he jumped ship for the union coin. Saints’ last win at Salford against the Red Devils was a 26-4 success in February 2019. Grace crossed the whitewash that day as did Lomax and Percival, while Roby managed a brace.
At the end of that season the teams met in the Grand Final at Old Trafford. Under Holbrook Saints claimed the first of their current run of four successive titles with a 23-6 win courtesy of tries from Percival, Knowles and Zeb Taia. Only five of the 17 on duty for Saints that night are in contention for this one, while only Sio survives from the Salford line-up. They did have a chap named Joey Lussick - recently of this parish before his bizarrely handled mid-season move to Parramatta which sparked the arrival of Mbye.
Salford’s rotten form gives me hope but I can’t help but feel a little spooked by the return of Sneyd and Lafai in particular. Without Walmsley Saints played a more expansive game against Leeds but it will be difficult to match Salford in that kind of shootout if they produce their best. Which admittedly is an enormous ‘if’. But it comes down to pace in the backs then Rowley’s side has more than just an edge.
Squads;
Salford Red Devils:
1. Ryan Brierley, 2. Ken Sio, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Tim Lafai, 5. Joe Burgess, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Marc Sneyd, 8. Jack Ormondroyd, 9. Andy Ackers, 10. King Vuniyayawa, 11. Andrew Dixon, 12. Sam Stone, 13. Oliver Partington, 14. Chris Atkin, 15. Danny Addy, 21. Amir Bourouh, 22. Rhys Williams, 25. Ben Hellewell, 26. James Greenwood, 28. Deon Cross, 29. Brad Singleton
Saints;
1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Will Hopoate, 4. Mark Percival, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Lewis Dodd, 9. James Roby, 10. Matty Lees, 13. Morgan Knowles, 16. Curtis Sironen,19. James Bell, 20. Dan Norman, 21. Ben Davies, 22. Sam Royle, 24. Lewis Baxter, 25. Tee Ritson, 28. Matthew Foster, 30. George Delaney, 34. Wesley Bruines, 35. Moses Mbye, 36. Jake Burns
Referee: Jack Smith
No comments:
Post a Comment