It’s a pretty daunting task which awaits injury ravaged, out of form Saints as they go to the Halliwell Jones Stadium to face Warrington on Saturday afternoon (September 7, kick-off 3.00pm).
The red vee earned a potentially vital 18-10 win at Huddersfield last time out, a result which may yet be critical if they are to avoid missing out on the playoffs for the first time in Super League history. With three games left it looks like they will need to finish above at least one of Salford Red Devils, Catalans Dragons or Leigh Leopards if they are going to sneak in.
Salford and Catalans meet this weekend, so a win at Warrington with Castleford at home to follow next week could be enough for Paul Wellens' men due to their superior points difference over the other three realistic contenders. With Wigan and Hull KR to play in their final two games I’m all but ruling out Leeds despite their 68-6 pummelling of Hull FC tonight (September 6).
How likely is a win for Saints over Warrington? In truth, not very. Sam Burgess' Wolves have been a far more consistent outfit this season and have already handed Saints two defeats. Both of those were on St Helens soil, a place where until very recently Warrington’s inability to win was one of sport’s best running jokes.
The first of those Wolves wins came in the Challenge Cup quarter-final in April and was a particularly chastening experience for Saints who went down 31-8. They were unable to cope with the pace out wide of Burgess' side and that was with a relatively full strength side. They are not any better equipped now. When Wire came back to town in July they left with a 24-10 win despite having James Harrison red carded and Matty Nicholson sent to the sin bin.
If the Wolves can win this one at home it will guarantee them a top three spot and keep them in the hunt for the top two given that present incumbents Hull KR and Wigan also clashed this weekend. One of them had to lose (probably) and in the event it was Wigan who came out on top, showing Saints how to capitalise on a numerical advantage as the Robins’ discipline left town. For Warrington League Leaders Shield hopes look to have slipped away but hopes of a home semi final and a Grand Final appearance remain high.
Wellens has made just the one change to his 21-man squad but taken at face value it is a pretty exciting one. Jack Welsby has been out with a hamstring injury since the 46-4 clubbing Saints took at Leigh in July. It had been feared that he would not be fit to make a comeback until that next meeting with the Leopards on the final weekend of the regular season. There have to be doubts about how fit he is given that his inclusion is something of a surprise. He's a match winner but even he might struggle to direct this one in Saints favour given that Tommy Makinson is suspended and all of,Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Lewis Dodd, Daryl Clark , Curtis Sironen and James Bell are still out injured. There is an argument to suggest that it is not worth the risk in a game that is pretty close to unwinnable.
it's entirely possible that Welsby - who comes in for Leon Cowen - has been included simply to put doubt in Warrington minds. Or maybe it is just Wellens' way of throwing Saints fans a bone at a miserable time. All the good news we have had - the signings of Tristan Sailor, Kyle Feldt, Lewis Murphy and the homecoming of sought after coaching talent Lee Briers - has been for 2025 and beyond. Desperate for something to cheer now, what better than the prospect of the return of one of the league's best players? And including him now - even if we don't believe he is fit enough - does suggest that he will be at full tilt for the playoffs should Saints get in. The first playoff game is still three weeks away, plenty of time for that suspect hamstring to finish its recovery.
Some have suggested that Harry Robertson needs a rest after a promising breakthrough season. In a time of dire necessity Wellens has looked to youngsters like Robertson and they haven't let him down. However, there are still too many errors in Robertson's game for him to be relied upon consistently. Chances are he will have to continue at fullback behind the wing pairing of the restored Jon Bennison and Tee Ritson. Ben Davies was surprisingly left out of the side last week so Waqa Blake could again be partnered by Sione Mata'utia in the centres. Dodd's continued absence leaves a likely halfback partnership of Jonny Lomax and Moses Mbye but George Whitby - who made his debut in the 46-6 defeat by Hull KR a fortnight ago - is in the squad and could yet be offered another opportunity.
Despite the absences of Bell and Clark the pack is looking in slightly better health. Alex Walmsley didn't have his finest 80 minutes in a Saints shirt last week but if he can cut out the errors which plagued that performance he is still a destructive ball carrier likely to top the list of metre makers on any given day. Matty Lees is a solid presence alongside him and was recently trusted by Wellens to the extent that he was given the captaincy during the suspension of Lomax. Those two should push George Delaney to the bench where there is now some depth at prop with Agnatius Passi and Noah Stephens also included.
Jake Burns started at hooker last week and will again if Wellens decides to keep Mbye alongside Lomax rather than reintroduce Whitby. With Sironen still out and with Mata'utia possibly required in the centres Matt Whitley and Joe Batchelor look the likely second row combination with Morgan Knowles behind them at 13. Assuming all of Delaney, Paasi and Stephens make the bench then the final spot on the pine could be taken by the versatile Jonny Vaughan. Having played much of his first team rugby at centre he did a stint at hooker last time out and can also operate in the second row. Sam Royle is another back rower who will be hopeful of a place on the bench.
Warrington’s Vaughan - prop forward Paul - earned a red card against Leigh last week which was one of the most talked about of the season. The shoulder which made contact with the head of Owen Trout earned Vaughan a three-game ban which will see him miss out until the first round of the playoffs.
Perhaps the biggest loss to the attack is fullback Matt Dufty. The former St George-Illawarra Dragon has had surgery on a knee problem but still hopes to make it back for the knockout games. In his absence Cai Taylor-Wray has proven that he is an emerging talent with a promising future.
Taylor-Wray operates behind a wing pairing of Josh Thewlis and England squad member Matty Ashton with Roderick Tai and Toby King likely to be the starting centres. England skipper George Williams forms the halfback pairing with Josh Drinkwater with another new star for 2024 ruled out for the season in Leon Hayes. The youngster was keeping Drinkwater out of the team until an ankle injury in a defeat to Salford in April halted his progress.
Along with Paul Vaughan the Warrington pack will be missing the services of Harrison. The 28 year-old son of former Great Britain - remember them? - forward Karl Harrison is dealing with a leg injury. Luke Yates’ early arrival from Huddersfield has been a boost for Wire and he could start at one of the prop positions with Joe Philbin and Zane Musgrove ready to step into the void left by Vaughan.
Danny Walker is one of six Warrington players called up to the England squad by Head Coach and Danger Mouse nemesis Shaun Wane this week. He should be the starting nine and will be spelled by former Wigan man Sam Powell. Another ex-Wigan and England star John Bateman - who also enjoyed spells in the NRL with Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers - is part of a strong back three that also includes Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Ben Currie. Jordy Crowther and Nicholson are among those looking to play long minutes in those positions.
Although the pair have met twice already this year this is only the second league meeting and the first in Warrington. In that 24-10 league defeat Wire were still able to hold Saints at arms length despite those cards shown to Harrison and Nicholson. Saints’ attempts to break down an outnumbered Wire defence bordered on the comical just north of the absolutely tragic. If Burgess’ side can keep their discipline it probably won’t be that close this time around.
Which could leave Saints in something of a pickle. Leigh’s win at Castleford tonight (September 6) means that a Leopards victory in that final week showdown will guarantee that Adrian Lam’s side finish above Saints and land in the playoffs.
Unless Saints can spring a surprise in this one against the Wolves.
Unlikely.
Squads;
Warrington Wolves; 2. Josh Thewlis 3. Toby King 5. Matty Ashton 6. George Williams 7. Josh Drinkwater 9. Danny Walker 11. Ben Currie 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Matty Nicholson 14. Roderick Tai 15. Joe Philbin 16. Zane Musgrove 17. Jordy Crowther 28. Adam Holroyd 29. Tom Whitehead 32. Sam Powell 33. Aaron Lindop 34. Max Wood 38. Cai Taylor-Wray 42. John Bateman
Referee: Chris Kendall
Video Referee: Marcus Griffiths
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