Crisis temporarily averted, Saints can move back into Super League’s top four with a win over Salford Red Devils on Thursday night (August 8, kick-off 8.00pm).
Last weekend’s 46-6 win at Hull FC brought to an end a wretched run of five consecutive league defeats for Paul Wellens’ side. That represented the club’s worst run of form in Super League history and - for anyone unaware that rugby league existed before 1996 - the worst since all the way back in 1986. Saints finished third that season as Halifax took the title. Had playoffs been a thing back then, who knows? Crisis? What crisis?
Salford have enjoyed an excellent season so far, though they are only two points better off than Saints as things stand. Funny thing, perspective. They are still prone to the odd inexplicable blip - like losing at terminally terrible Huddersfield in mid-July - but Paul Rowley’s side have won 13 of their 20 league games so far in 2024 and six of their last eight since beating Saints at home in June.
Victory at Saints in this one would be their third of the season against the red vee. This is made possible by the continuing annoyance that is the existence of loop fixtures. A win would also give Salford a four-point buffer over Wellens’ men with just six regular season games to go. The team finishing fourth in the table faces the side finishing fifth in the first week of the playoffs, but crucially the home advantage is with the higher placed team. There could yet be a fair amount riding on this one.
Wellens makes two changes to his 21-man squad as a couple of Saints” bigger hitters become available again. Mark Percival returns after a one-game suspension saw him miss the trip to Hull while the headline is undoubtedly the inclusion of Alex Walmsley. The talismanic prop has not featured since the Challenge Cup humbling by Warrington in April. If he’s fit enough to take a place in the 17 it could make a massive difference for Saints.
The two men to step out this week are the as yet untried Will Roberts as well as Jonny Vaughan. Vaughan’s run of four consecutive appearances ended when he was left out of the match day squad at Hull. He now finds himself out of the first team party altogether as some more familiar names get back to fitness. No doubt there are those who would have retained him at the expense of Ben Davies but at this stage of his development Vaughan isn’t a clear upgrade on Davies from where I sit. It’s a toss up between the two and Wellens seems particularly loyal to Davies.
Davies will likely get a start at centre alongside Percival although Wellens could choose to keep Waqa Blake there and persevere with Tee Ritson on the wing. That would be a selection not short on critics either. Some would take Davies and Ritson over Blake. Fit again Tommy Makinson is still an automatic choice on the other flank. With Jack Welsby among those still absent expect Harry Robertson to continue at fullback. Jonny Lomax serves the second of a three-game suspension so the halfback partnership should be between Moses Mbye and Lewis Dodd.
After so long on the sidelines it would be a surprise to see Walmsley start and with George Delaney still unavailable Agnatius Paasi and Matty Lees might be the initial selections with Daryl Clark at hooker. Joe Batchelor came back into the fold last weekend after seven games out and competes for a starting second row berth with Matt Whitley and Curtis Sironen.
One of those three will be on the bench along with James Bell now that Morgan Knowles is available. If Walmsley also takes a spot among the interchanges then either last week’s star Jake Burns or 2024 breakout prop Noah Stephens will miss out as will Sam Royle and Jon Bennison. The fact that Wellens now has tough decisions to make is an indication that the squad is getting healthier.
Rowley will need to make at least one change to the side which beat Leeds Rhinos 22-16 last time out. Centre Tim Lafai picked up a one-game ban for a high shot in that one and so misses out. Candidates to replace him include ex-Saint Deon Cross who could move inside from the wing, former Wigan man Chris Hankinson or even a second rower such as Sam Stone or Kallum Watkins.
It’s not that long since the latter was a world class centre, after all. Watkins has been linked with a return to his former club Leeds for next year as Gary Hetherington continues to try to get the 2015 band back together having already recaptured Ryan Hall from Hull KR. For now Watkins remains a key player for the Red Devils wherever he lines up.
Whoever gets the nod to fill in for Lafai will slot into a back line featuring Ryan Brierley at fullback, Ethan Ryan on the wing and another former Leeds man Nene McDonald at centre. Jayden Nikorima has recently usurped Cade Cust at the stand-off position after joining from Catalans Dragons. He’s an explosive if inconsistent performer but the real key in the halves is Marc Sneyd. He possesses arguably the best kicking game in the league and can take over a game when things are going well. Shutting him down will be one of the priorities for Saints defensively.
Joe Shorrocks lined up at hooker last week but Amir Bourouh is available and could be involved. Brad Singleton is likely to be one starting prop while Loghan Lewis, Gil Dudson and Joe Bullock offer further options. Oliver Partington is nominally the loose forward but is essentially another front rower, as is the modern way. In the second row it could be Stone and Watkins if they are not moved elsewhere. Shane Wright bolsters that department also.
It’s well documented that Saints have had some trouble with Salford this year. The 24-20 home defeat in March was Salford’s first win in St Helens in 44 years. It’s fair to say it was aided somewhat by Percival’s red card early in the second half. Until then Saints - while not totally convincing - appeared to have the matter in hand. Poor discipline has been so costly for Saints this year and should be another area which Wellens puts a lot of importance on in his pre-game messaging.
Salford enjoyed no such numerical advantages when the sides met at what used to be the AJ Bell in June, yet they still enjoyed the same outcome. That one finished 20-18 in the Red Devils’ favour as Hankinson’s late score ensured his side took the spoils. It was a topsy turvy encounter featuring a couple of lead changes but again it was the extra pace on the edges - as well as their willingness to use it - which proved the difference for Salford.
It’s that pace which is again a concern for Saints fans going into this one. The defence will certainly improve with regulars back in the team but it remains vulnerable to an expansive style of play. Salford certainly have that but can they hold their nerve and persist with it in the heat of a battle that seems to have genuine playoff implications?
Hopefully not, but one win at Hull has not banished the memory of our recent frailties. Lafai’s absence is helpful to Saints but there are others who can hurt them similarly. At this point in the season any win against a side with such threats is a major plus.
Squads;
Saints;
2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Waqa Blake, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 7. Lewis Dodd, 8. Alex Walmsley, 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, 31. Noah Stephens, 33. Harry Robertson.
Salford Red Devils;
1. Ryan Brierley 2. Ethan Ryan 3. Nene McDonald 5. Deon Cross 6. Cade Cust 7. Marc Sneyd 8. Brad Singleton 9. Amir Bourouh 11. Sam Stone 12. Kallum Watkins 13. Oliver Partington 14. Chris Atkin 15. Shane Wright 16. Joe Shorrocks 23. Chris Hankinson 24. Joe Mellor 27. Gil Dudson 28. Harvey Wilson 29. Loghan Lewis 31. Joe Bullock 32. Jayden Nikorima
Referee: Chris Kendall
Video Referee: Jack Smith
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