Things can only get better, right?
Well, sort of. Though we dare not imagine it things could actually get worse as Saints prepare for the trip to Hull FC on Saturday (August 3, kick-off 3.00pm).
A mortifying 46-4 thumping at Leigh last time out felt like a rock bottom moment. It was Saints’ fifth league defeat in a row. That hasn’t happened since 1986 but it was the manner of it which was most concerning. Process following, grinding Saints were routed by a Leopards side playing expansive, free-flowing rugby. When I feared that the way Warrington cut Saints open in the cup in April would act as a blueprint for other sides even I didn’t think it would lead to this sort of hammering and the worst league run for 38 years.
Failure to win a game since beating London at the end of June has had a major effect on Saints’ playoff hopes. They remain the only team to reach the playoffs in every season since they were introduced into Super League in 1998 but missing out this year is now a genuine possibility. Some might say more likely than not. The rot has to stop soon or else they’ll have a watching brief as the top six fight it out to get to Old Trafford.
Head Coach Paul Wellens has made five changes to his 21-man squad this week. Some are enforced, some are due to the welcome return of a couple of those who have been absent during this gloomy run of form. Morgan Knowles hasn’t played since the 40-20 loss at Hull KR in early May, missing nine matches in that time. Joe Batchelor has missed the last seven, last featuring in a 40-10 home win over Leeds Rhinos on May 24. Both are in contention for this one.
Which would be excellent news if it weren’t for the fact that as the forward pack replenishes - Matt Whitley made his comeback at Leigh - the back line has been stripped bare. Already without Konrad Hurrell for the season Saints have now lost Jack Welsby to a hamstring problem likely to keep him out for eight weeks. That might give him a chance of being available for the final game of the season but will there be anything to play for by then?
Welsby’s injury was one of the things that Wellens is entitled to feel is an example of the devil farting in his face but the absences of Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival are entirely self inflicted. Both were yellow carded in the defeat at Leigh which - while it probably had next to no effect on that result - could be costly this week. Percival will serve a one-game ban while the greater force involved in Lomax’s shoulder to the head of Gareth O’Brien has seen him handed a three-game ban following a tribunal.
So the back line will have a very unusual look about it. Moses Mbye picked up a knock that forced him off at the LSV but is named. That could see him paired with Lewis Dodd in the halves with Harry Robertson continuing at fullback. Youngster Will Roberts is named and is another option if Wellens fancies handing out another heritage number. The way Wellens appears to feel about Dodd suggests it shouldn’t be ruled out.
Tommy Makinson and Waqa Blake are the only first choice players available in the back five so both Ben Davies and Jonny Vaughan could start at centre. Despite all of the changes Will Dagnall has not been named as backup or as a genuine challenger to those two.
George Delaney has seemingly been in and out like a Waqa behind a pub and again misses out. That increases the likelihood of a start at prop for Agnatius Paasi alongside Matty Lees and hooker Daryl Clark. With Mbye probably needed elsewhere Jake Burns also makes the 21 as a possible alternative to Clark if and when the ex-Warrington man needs a rest. Wellens’ use of substitutes during this bad run suggests that Clark would need to be on the critical list for that to happen but Burns is there if needed. As is Noah Stephens at prop having featured in the last nine.
Having got some minutes last week Whitley looks best placed to partner Curtis Sironen in the second row. Moving James Bell back to loose forward would benefit his game and allow Saints to have both Knowles and Batchelor on a much stronger looking bench. Sam Royle will hope for at least a place alongside them after missing and therefore not being stained by the Leigh debacle. The inclusion of Tee Ritson and Jon Bennison looks to be purely for the not unlikely event of another injury in the back division before Saturday.
FC’s interim boss Scott Grix makes three changes to the squad which ultimately went down 24-16 to Catalans Dragons in Perpignan last week. Liam Sutcliffe and King Vuniyayawa are out with foot and ankle injuries respectively while Ligi Sao begins a two game suspension. In their stead come Tiaki Chan, Will Kirby and - after joining on loan from Leeds Rhinos - Leon Ruan.
Jack Walker is another ex-Leeds man and he should be the starting fullback. Youngsters Harvey Barron and Lewis Martin occupied the wings against the Dragons though with Sutcliffe out Grix will need to find another centre partner for the veteran Carlos Tuimavave. One of the youngsters may be used with Tom Briscoe brought back in on the wing. Ed Chamberlain played in the second row in France but could be a candidate to fill in at centre also.
FC fans haven’t seen the full potential of Jake Trueman since his move from Castleford Tigers but he should get another chance to show his talents alongside 18 year-old halfback Jack Charles.
With Sao out benchmark mullet wearer Brad Fash comes into contention for a start after being on the bench last week. Herman Ese’ese and Yusuf Aydin are the other prop options along with Will Gardiner. With Danny Houghton out the hooking duties could again be shared by Morgan Smith and Denive Balmforth. In the back row Kirby and Zach Jebson are the only other specialist second rows in the 21 and so have a shot at being paired with Jordan Lane. One of those may even get a run at loose forward if Fash doesn’t get the nod.
This is the second meeting between the sides in 2024 and unless something incredible happens Paul Wellens’ men will at least leave the MKM Stadium with the Steve Prescott Cup. In the first leg a very different looking Saints team walloped a very different looking Hull FC side 58-0 back in April. Both sides’ fortunes have gone in the opposite direction since. Saints have gone on their well documented run of defeats while FC have beaten both Wigan and Leeds of late to put some daylight between themselves and London Broncos at the bottom of the table.
Saints visited the black and whites twice in successive weeks in 2023, winning 32-18 in a Challenge Cup quarter final before being hammered 34-6 in the league clash. Though it may sometimes feel like Saints don’t have a great record at Hull their last defeat in the league there was a 24-14 reverse in March 2017. Of the 17 on duty that day only Makinson and Knowles have a chance of being involved in this one.
The return of Knowles and Batchelor should help address any problems of work rate and physicality but you still can’t help but worry about what will be a very inexperienced back division. Especially in the context of FC’s recent upturn in form, limited though it is. I’d take any sort of win to avoid the losing streak reaching six, but I can’t confidently predict that it will happen.
Things will get better. They can only get better. Just not necessarily this week.
Squads;
Hull FC:
3. Carlos Tuimavave 6. Jake Trueman 8. Herman Ese’ese 13. Brad Fash 15. Jordan Lane 19. Morgan Smith 21. Will Gardiner 25. Harvey Barron 26. Lewis Martin 27. Zach Jebson 28. Denive Balmforth 30. Matty Laidlaw 31. Jack Walke 37. Logan Moy 40. Jack Charles 43. Ed Chamberlain 44. Tom Briscoe 45. Yusuf Aydiin 46. Tiaki Chan 49. Will Kirby 51. Leon Ruan
Saints;
2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Waqa Blake, 5. Jon Bennison, 7. Lewis Dodd, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Matty Lees, 12. Joe Batchelor, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Moses Mbye, 15. James Bell, 16. Curtis Sironen, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 19. Matt Whitley, 21. Ben Davies, 22. Sam Royle, 24. Jake Burns, 25. Tee Ritson, 29. Will Roberts, 30. Jonny Vaughan, 31. Noah Stephens, 33. Harry Robertson.
Referee: Liam Moore
Video Referee: Marcus Griffiths
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