Battered, bruised and not a little embarrassed Saints travel to Castleford looking for a slice of redemption on Friday night (May 11, kick-off 8.00pm).
Last weekend’s visit to Hull KR turned into a nightmare for Paul Wellens’ side who conceded seven tries and 40 points to Willie Peters’ men. To put that in context, Saints had only conceded 12 tries in nine Super League games combined prior to that one. It was a capitulation eerily reminiscent of the one at home to Warrington which saw Saints’ Challenge Cup ambitions put to bed for another year in April. It’s fair to say that the men in the red vee will be desperate to make amends.
It’s probably not the best time to be facing a somewhat resurgent Castleford Tigers, then. Craig Lingard’s men have only won two of their first 10 Super League matches in 2024 but the notion that they offer a gimme to opponents was more than challenged by their 28-28 draw with Leigh Leopards last time out. Though Adrian Lam’s side have not yet hit the heights they managed in 2023 they are still a side which on paper looked well capable of putting a previously comatose Tigers side to the sword. That it did not pan out that way is evidence that the Tigers are starting to emerge from their slumber and become competitive again. The timing of that is just rude, frankly.
Wellens has made two changes to his 21-man squad ahead of this one. Tommy Makinson missed the Hull KR debacle with chickenpox but is back in contention, while Sam Royle also comes back in. That’s because Morgan Knowles is out with what is so far being described as a slight groin issue while Matt Whitley picked up a shoulder injury during the Craven Park carnage.
Despite Whitley’s absence Royle is still unlikely to force his way into the 17. Wellens still has the criminally underused Curtis Sironen at his disposal and he should slot into the back row alongside Joe Batchelor. With Knowles out James Bell may get a first start since the opening night win over London Broncos back in February. Bell has only started 31 of his 59 Saints appearances since joining from the team then known as Leigh Centurions. However, with Alex Walmsley out for the foreseeable there is a solid argument for keeping Bell at loose forward and using Knowles in the front row when the Cumbrian returns to full fitness.
At the moment that front row lacks the depth it once had. Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia and George Delaney are all permanent fixtures but there is arguably a fourth spot in the rotation up for grabs until Agnatius Paasi can be considered again. Jake Wingfield could come into come into contention for at least a place on the bench. If he does he will sit next to whichever of Moses Mbye or Daryl Clark is held back by Wellens from the start.
Makinson will surely slot back into his familiar right wing spot. That could mean that Tee Ritson’s return to first team action is limited to just the one outing. It’s unlikely he will get the nod on the other wing ahead of Waqa Blake. Konrad Hurrell and Mark Percival are the preferred centre partnership with Jack Welsby back at fullback now that the soon to be departing Lewis Dodd is back alongside Jonny Lomax in the halves.
Lingard also makes two changes to his 21. Sam Hall is out due to concussion protocols while Samy Kibula also misses out. Prop Sam Eseh comes in alongside teenage fullback Fletcher Rooney. The latter is unlikely to get a sniff in the number one role thanks to the impact that has already been made by Tex Hoy. The former Newcastle Knight was apparently not good enough to get into a woeful Hull FC outfit during Tony Smith’s time in charge but has shown in just a couple of Tigers’ appearances that he remains a threat.
Saints fans may also be wary of the Senior twins on the wings. Innes and Louis have the kind of genuine pace that is currently giving Saints edge defenders the heebie-jeebies. If Hoy can link in with them as well as halves Jacob Miller and ex-Rovers man Rowan Milnes they could be a potent force. Corey Hall has also arrived from Rovers on loan and should feature, As if KR haven’t punished us enough they threaten to do so again through the medium of their former players.
The Tigers front row is a little long in the tooth but does not lack pedigree. Liam Watts is a controversial, divisive figure but is more than capable at this level while hooker Paul McShane is a former Steve Prescott Man Of Steel winner. One of those players who genuinely makes a difference to the team that he plays in and is more keenly missed when he isn’t there. Eseh may come into contention for a start or a bench spot in the front row with Hall out. That would allow Joe Westerman to move into the back row where he can perhaps be more creative. Elie El-Zakhem and ex-Leeds Rhino Alex Mellor offer further back row options.
Last season Saints were edged out of the top two on points difference by both Wigan and Catalans Dragons while Castleford limped to an 11th placed finish. They were just four points above Wakefield who were unfortunate enough to finish bottom of the pile in the last year when relegation was realistically A Thing. During that campaign these two met on three occasions. Saints had just returned from conquering the world (well, Penrith anyway) when a Walmsley double and tries from Ritson and Welsby sealed a 24-6 win at The Mend-A-Hose.
Welsby was a scorer again in a 22-0 win at home at the end of June when Percival, Mata’utia and Jon Bennison also crossed. Saints headed back to The Jungle in August when Makinson bagged two tries to add to scores from Percival, Bennison, Lomax and Batchelor in a 34-4 rout. Castleford’s last win at home to Saints was in 2022 when a weakened visiting side were downed 30-10 in the days after the always challenging Easter weekend.
There will be three meetings again this year as loop fixtures once more do their thing. After this clash Saints welcome the Tigers to town on July 5 while they also host them in the penultimate regular season game in September.
There’s little doubt that the gulf between these sides has closed somewhat in recent weeks but Saints must still be a firm favourite. Just don’t expect a dazzling, 50-point display. With six teams locked on the same number of points at the top of the table just getting the win is the first priority. If we could have a little bit of entertainment too that would be nice.
I know. Moon on a stick.
Squads;
Castleford Tigers;
4. Sam Wood 5. Innes Senior 6. Danny Richardson 7. Jacob Miller 8. Liam Watts 9. Paul McShane 11. Elie El-Zakhem 12. Alex Mellor 13. Joe Westerman 14. Liam Horne 15. George Griffin 16. Rowan Milnes 18. Josh Hodson 24. Cain Robb 25. Brad Martin 29. George Hill 31. Fletcher Rooney 33. Louis Senior 34. Tex Hoy 35. Corey Hall 36. Sam Eseh
Saints;
1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Waqa Blake, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Lewis Dodd, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 12. Joe Batchelor, 14. Moses Mbye, 15. James Bell, 16. Curtis Sironen, 18. Jake Wingfield, 20. George Delaney, 21. Ben Davies, 22. Sam Royle, 23. Konrad Hurrell, 25. Tee Ritson, 31. Noah Stephens.
RReferee: Jack Smith
VVideo Referee: Liam Rush
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