St Helens v Salford Red Devils - Preview

One hundred and nineteen days after Jack Welsby’s Grand Final winning try (and 10 minutes after you’ve stopped watching re-runs of it) Super League finally comes back into our lives as Saints take on Salford Red Devils at Headingley on Friday (March 26, kick-off 6.00pm).

In 2020 Kristian Woolf’s side successfully defended their Super League crown that had been won under Justin Holbrook in 2019.  Now they embark on a quest for what NFL aficionados call a threepeat. No side has won three successive Super League titles since Leeds Rhinos managed it between 2007-09. Woolf’s men start favourites, and begin the campaign with the challenge of his former assistant coach Richard Marshall’s new charges from the AJ Bell Stadium.

Saints have had only one pre-season run to speak of, a 25-24 loss to Leigh Centurions in Tommy Makinson’s testimonial match on March 13. A handful of key players missed that one with minor knocks but the good news is that the vast majority of them are fit to take their place in Woolf’s first 21-man squad selection of 2021. Only Morgan Knowles remains on the sidelines due to a thumb injury for which he has had surgery. Complications mean he could be set for a few more weeks out of action.

Though Knowles is the only current squad member injured he will not be the only one of Saints 2020 squad absent. Zeb Taia retired before opting to play at a gentler level in Australia, James Graham called time on his career while Dominique Peyroux and Joseph Paulo have made the move to Toulouse. In have come back rowers Joel Thompson and Sione Mata’utia from Manly Sea Eagles and Newcastle Knights respectively and prop forward Agnatius Paasi from New Zealand Warriors. Saints other major recruit - London Broncos prop Dan Norman - gets an early indication of how big a step up he has made as he has not made the cut for this one.

Reassuringly, the back division should look pretty much as it did last year. Lachlan Coote was one of those who missed the Leigh reverse but should return at fullback while Regan Grace should be back on the left wing. Makinson, Kevin Naiqama and the fit again Mark Percival should complete the rest of the back line with Jonny Lomax and Theo Fages in the halves. Lewis Dodd played three first team games in 2020 and is included. He may not get the start here but it surely won’t be too long before the 19 year-old is putting real pressure on Fages for his place at halfback.

Thompson and Mata’utia look to have the best chance of making a full debut in the pack. Paasi will hope to be included in a prop group that is led by the mountainous Alex Walmsley and also features Matty Lees, Kyle Amor and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Knowles’ absence means that one of either Mata’utia or James Bentley could fill in at loose forward. James Roby left the Leigh match in the opening minutes with a concussion but is available. Josh Eaves’ recent loan move to Leigh appears to have left the way clear for Aaron Smith to provide the regular cover for the skipper. 

It’s a pretty strong looking outfit. So strong that Welsby isn’t guaranteed a place in the 17 and nor are 2020 breakthrough stars Dodd and Josh Simm or highly-rated back rower Joe Batchelor. Whoever misses out this week though will know that with 25 rounds planned between now and the October Grand Final they will get their opportunities as the season wears on. It is Saints strength in depth which makes them a leading contender to win it all again.

Salford cannot traditionally boast such depth and they suffered a further blow when coach Ian Watson made the move to Huddersfield Giants. The former Welsh international led Salford to the 2019 Grand Final as well as the 2020 Challenge Cup final. They may have lost both but Salfordians were nevertheless breathing rare air after years of struggle at the wrong end of the table. Marshall has head coaching experience at Halifax and knows all about what it takes to be a winner after those two title wins as a number two.

His first competitive Salford squad selection is shorn of two new signings in former Wigan winger Joe Burgess and ex-Toronto man Darcy Lussick but there are several new faces in the 21. One of those is former Saint Matty Costello, while Harvey Livett, Elijah Taylor and veteran Danny Addy could all feature. Morgan Escare has come in to replace departed fullback Niall Evalds who has joined Castleford. Dec Patton joins a group of halves that includes Kevin Brown and Tui Lolohea. There is strike in the three-quarters too with the excellent Krisnan Inu and one-time England regular Kallum Watkins joining Dan Sarginson, Rhys Williams and Ken Sio. 

The side is led from the front by Lee Mossop, though the loss of Gil Dudson to Catalans Dragons may be felt especially with Lussick out. Sebastine Ikahihifo and Pauli Pauli will look to add impact value and in the back row Taylor will be a key. The rest of what should be a competitive squad is completed for this one by Elliott Kear, Jack Ormondroyd, Jack Wells, Josh Johnson and Ryan Lannon. 

Saints and Salford met on the opening weekend last year. Back before Covid, when crowds were a thing at sports events, and before the world plunged into its dystopian new normal. On that occasion Welsby deputised for an injured Coote and shone in a 48-8 win that was probably Saints best performance prior to the game’s suspension. It might be closer this time but I still expect that powerful Saints squad to get them home by a couple of scores.

Squads;

St Helens;

1, Lachlan Coote, 2, Tommy Makinson, 3. Kevin Naiqama, 4. Mark Percival,  5. Regan Grace, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Theo Fages, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Joel Thompson, 12, James Bentley, 14. Sione Mata’utia, 15. LMS, 16. Kyle Amor, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 18. Jack Welsby, 19. Aaron Smith, 20, Joe Batchelor, 21. Lewis Dodd, 22, Josh Simm.

Salford Red Devils;

Morgan Escare, Ken Sio, Kallum Watkins, Krisnan Inu, Tui Lolohea, Kevin Brown, Lee Mossop, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Ryan Lannon, Pauli Pauli, Elijah Taylor, Danny Addy, Josh Johnson, Elliott Kear, Harvey Livett, Rhys Williams, Dan Sarginson, Matty Costello, Jack Ormondroyd, Jack Wells, Dec Patton

Referee: Liam Moore

Super League 2021 Preview - Wigan Warriors

 If Adrian Lam closes his eyes he can probably still see it. At first sailing inexorably towards the posts against the Hull night sky, then clanging off an upright and bouncing gladly away from the flapping Bevan French and falling invitingly for overnight hero Jack Welsby. 

The moments that immediately followed Tommy Makinson’s audacious Grand Final drop-goal attempt turned success into failure for Wigan. That is the harsh nature of a league structure which hinges entirely on the outcome of one game. Whether it’s in Manchester in October or Hull in November. The League Leaders Shield - which Wigan won by some mathematical Rachelrileyism more absurd even than win percentage - is wrongly viewed as scant consolation these days.

Yet Lam would do well to remember that he has come a long way since his initial elevation into the Wigan coaching hot-seat. Back then he was considered a stop-gap until the Shaun Edwards debacle offered him an opportunity. Though they ultimately fell short the 2020 Wigan more resembled the horrible, hard to beat envelope pushing rule benders they were under Shaun Wane.  Perceived wisdom before a ball has been kicked in 2021 is that Wigan are the team most likely to stop Saints winning a third consecutive title. That’s partly because many of the other contenders are either building under new coaches or in various states of disarray. But it’s also because Wigan are pretty good too. 

If Wigan’s off-season recruitment is anything to go by then Lam seems content with his squad. There have been only two major arrivals, while a good deal of trimming has gone on. Nine players who were around in 2020 are unavailable in 2021 for one reason or another. That figure doesn’t include the team’s main providers of flair and excitement - French and Jackson Hastings - both of whom have re-signed with the Warriors for this year but whose whereabouts ahead of the Round 1 clash with newly promoted Leigh Centurions is the subject of much whispering and sniggering among fans of other clubs. 

The biggest name walking through the entrance is familiar face John Bateman who returns to Wigan after a two-year spell with Canberra Raiders. Bateman played 132 times for Wigan between 2014-18 after making his name with Bradford Bulls. He is now recognised as one of the premier back rowers in the world, with 16 caps for England and a further four for Great Britain. He is one of the still few Brits who has genuinely cracked the NRL and managed to shine. As long as Lam doesn’t ask him to play centre Bateman should have a major impact at Wigan both on and off the field. He will not be skipper - that honour having been bestowed upon ageless halfback/hooker hybrid Tommy Leuluai - but Bateman will play a key role in filling the leadership void left by the finally retired Sean O’Loughlin.

The other big signing will be handy if it turns out French and/or Hastings don’t wash up on our shores like the 14th wave of an endless pandemic. Jai Field is a 22 year-old halfback with limited NRL experience but devastating pace and elusiveness. Field played just 11 times for St George-Illawarra Dragons between 2017-19 before making just six appearances for Parramatta Eels last year. But there is no shame in not getting a lot of game time behind Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses. Even if French and Hastings start regularly it is not hard to envisage Field coming off the bench late in games to cause havoc among tired defences.

To those departing now and outside the once talismanic O’Loughlin there are one or two others who have been part of previous successes whom Lam no longer requires. Enemy of sport Ben Flower has gone to neighbouring Leigh, while the pacy but injury prone presence of Joe Burgess is now part of Richard Marshall’s Salford project. Wigan are fresh out of Burgesses after George’s hip injury forced his departure after only one season and just eight first team appearances. Saints fans may also find it easier to tolerate Joe Greenwood now after he joined Huddersfield Giants. The former Saints academy product never looked right in a Wigan shirt. But he was never as good as Zeb...so.....

Wrapping up the squad-shaping Jack Wells has joined the faster of the world’s many rugby league Burgesses at Salford, youngster Harry Rushton has snapped up the chance to take the Bateman-George Williams-Ryan Sutton route and joined Canberra, while long time back-up centre Chris Hankinson is on loan at Championship London Broncos.

Ignoring their current and probably short-term staffing issues Wigan’s Achilles heel in 2021 appears to be the front row. With Flower gone and Tony Clubb seemingly kept around out of sentiment and obligation like Father Jack, the responsibility falls on a young and frankly....er.....irresponsible group. Morgan Smithies, Oliver Partington, Liam Byrne and company have all the nastiness to succeed long term but have yet to prove they can boss a game against equally physical, more street smart foes.  Brad Singleton has proved that he can’t, though Joe Bullock and Ethan Harvard have shown great promise. Bateman’s role, along with that of Leuluai, Liam Farrell and Sam Powell will be crucial in helping lead and elevate the more inexperienced players. And calm them the Hell down at times. Good luck with that.

There is better news in the backs. French and Hastings have obvious qualities and would grace any side, while Oliver Gildart is one of the best centres in the league right now. Zak Hardaker has shown himself to be more than serviceable there too should Lam persist with French at fullback and maybe unleash Field’s pace to compliment Hastings’ craft in the halves. Out wide letting Joe Burgess go was an eyebrow-raiser given the departure of Tom Davies to Catalans Dragons a year previously. Where once Wigan had a wing corps to rival Manchester United’s four-pronged strike force of the 1990s now they rely on the talented but physically well-worn pairing of Dom Manfredi and Liam Marshall.

It’s not how you start but how you end at clubs like Wigan, but they will nevertheless be under pressure to deliver a routine win over Leigh in Round 1. After that they face another side expected to struggle in Wakefield before things get tougher with Leeds, Castleford and Hull FC making up the first five.

The run-in towards what would be a second consecutive League Leaders Shield starts with another meeting with Leeds before Round 22 pitches Wigan against Castleford again. Warrington, Hull FC and Catalans Dragons may or may not constitute a tough final three fixtures before the knockout football begins.

And it is that which Lam will surely prioritise. First in the Challenge Cup where a 26-12 semi-final defeat to Leeds is another painful memory of 2020, but more importantly on reaching and winning that Grand Final. 

It is the only way Lam will ever get the image of a once-in-a-lifetime season ending and that Hull night sky out of his mind.

Super League 2021 Preview - Warrington Wolves

Ultimately, playoff defeat to a team who were only there because of a late-season restructure seemed like a very Warrington way to end 2020.

The Wolves finished third in the regular season standings behind Grand Finalists Saints and Wigan but went out to a Hull FC side which had gatecrashed the party. The playoffs were expanded from four to six teams  as the regular season descended into Covid chaos, allowing the black and whites to sneak in and dump Warrington out by virtue of a 27-14 victory. The 65-year wait for a title would go on.

The question of whether Warrington can finally end that drought will continue to be asked until they do it. Their 2021 bid will be coach Steve Price’s last. He has already made public his intention to leave the club at the end of the season. His three seasons in charge to date have brought silverware in the shape of the 2019 Challenge Cup but his tenure has mostly been a tale of almost but not quite. Defeat at Wembley a year previously was sandwiched between Grand Final losses to Wigan in both 2016 and 2018. This would be viewed as an impressive record at many clubs but should Price fail to make that final step towards Grand Final glory he is far more likely to be remembered for what he did not achieve than for what he did. That’s just the business he is in. 

Belief in Warrington’s capability to be crowned champions is understandably low outside the club because of their history. That history goes back much further than Price’s arrival but it has led many to declare that news of Price’s departure emerging now will only hasten it. There don’t seem to be many who believe that it will have a galvanising ‘Last Dance’ effect like it did for Justin Holbrook at Saints in 2019 or Shaun Wane at Wigan the year before. For some the writing is already on the wall. With Daryl Powell having Steve Priced his own intentions to leave Castleford after the 2021 season there is growing speculation that the former Leeds boss will pitch up at the Halliwell Jones Stadium well before then. 

But let’s get out of the DeLorean and stick to the present. In a bid to strengthen their hand Warrington have turned to former NRL behemoth Greg Inglis. The one time Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs man is a surprisingly youthful 34 but that doesn’t change the fact that he has not played rugby league since announcing his retirement in April 2019. Signing him now feels an awful lot like betting the whole house on red. Inglis is one of the greats of the game who if he produces anything like the form of his peak years could have a similar effect on Super League to the one that Ben Barba had in 2018.  But while Peak Inglis would no doubt Barbarise the opposition there have to be serious doubts about whether we will see it. Two years out of the game is a long time particularly at age 34. Nevertheless with a record of 150 tries from 265 NRL appearances, 18 in 32 Origin appearances for Queensland and a further 31 in 39 caps for Australia the pedigree is beyond question.

The rest of Warrington’s recruitment is minimalist. Almost as if they either felt they didn’t need to strengthen too much or they wanted to wait to appoint Price’s successor before really reshape the squad. Aside from Inglis the most prominent arrival is prop forward Rob Mulhern who joins from Hull KR. Mulhern has made 110 appearances for Rovers since 2016, that after managing just five at his home town Leeds Rhinos. The 26 year-old’s form earned him an England call-up for the 44-6 defeat of France in 2018. This being rugby league where nationality is fluid, Mulhern has also made four appearances for Ireland. 

Joining Mulhern in vying for game time in Warrington’s front row will be Rob Butler. Twenty-two year-old Butler has been with London Broncos since 2017 where he has made 40 appearances. That might seem like a fairly low figure over a four-year spell and there have been two loan spells at each of London Skolars and Coventry Bears during that time. Yet props tend to develop later than players in some other positions. Butler could be one for the future with 33 year-old Chris Hill entering his testimonial year and Mike Cooper now 32. Beyond those there is only Joe Philbin, Sitaleki Akauola and youngster Eribe Dorubu. The latter made his debut for the Wolves in a 12-10 victory over Castleford in September.

There were far more players ushered through the Warrington exit this off-season. Anthony Gelling’s Warrington future looked bleak from the moment he was charged with charged with assaulting his partner. He denies a charge of grievous bodily harm for which he will face trial in May. In the meantime the Wolves have cancelled his contract. On the field Gelling leaves a big hole which they have perhaps earmarked Inglis to fill in the centres. Gelling is an unpredictable, always watchable and skilful player but Inglis should still be an upgrade. 

One man who hasn’t been so adequately replaced is Ben Murdoch-Masila. The former Salford man is now with New Zealand Warriors in the NRL after a three-season spell at Warrington. The Wolves will find it hard to replace his ability to impact the game and it is that physicality up front that looks a notch below what the other main title contenders have. That isn’t helped any by the fact that the emerging talent of Sammy Kibula was sent on loan to Newcastle Thunder before an Achilles injury wrecked his season in any case. Warrington have also let back rower Luis Johnson join Hull KR.

Also leaving is the versatile Harvey Livett who is joined this year at Salford by Declan Patton. The latter was a genuine halfback option for Warrington for quite some time but didn’t seem to be favoured by Price. Livett could also fill in at stand-off, so the loss of those two leaves injury-prone veteran Gareth Widdop as the only alternative outside of the talismanic Blake Austin. Riley Dean has shown great promise whenever he has been given an opportunity but he is currently on loan to York City Knights in the Championship. 

The rest of the side should not change too much. If Inglis operates at centre then it’s a straight choice at fullback between the experience and class of Stefan Ratchford and the raw speed and excitement of Matty Ashton. When he’s not posting social media videos of himself scoring tries for Wigan against Warrington you can expect Josh Charnley to continue crossing the whitewash with great regularity. There is even less brain power on the opposite wing in the shape of government spokesman Tom Lineham but he is another who knows where the try-line is. Inside them Toby King has blossomed into one of the best English centres around and could form a devastating partnership with Inglis.

The back row has quality in England international Ben Currie and the ever consistent Jason Clark. It is also where you will find the new skipper with Jack Hughes appointed to replace Hill. Hughes has been a regular for Wire since making the move from Wigan and at 28 and having made 139 appearances for the club he certainly has the experience required of a leader. 

Warrington start 2021 with a meeting with Castleford Tigers. That has an extra helping of intrigue now given the rumours around Powell, but is always a fixture which has the potential to entertain. Round 2 brings a clash with newly promoted Leigh Centurions at St Helens, before Hull FC, Catalans Dragons and Hull KR provide the opponents to complete the first five. The start has extra pressure on it for Wire in the context of Price’s intention to leave. A poor start will put his immediate future back on the agenda.

If Price survives all of that then his final five regular season fixtures include a trip to Huddersfield, meetings with both Saints and Wigan, a battle with Richard Marshall’s Salford Red Devils and a final day meeting with Castleford on the weekend of September 16-19. 

If Powell is in the Tigers dugout that day and not the Warrington dugout then that may tell us something about Warrington’s chances in the playoffs.  If I had to make a prediction now I’d suggest the 66th anniversary of Warrington’s last title win will pass without the holy grail having been captured.

Super League 2021 Preview - Wakefield Trinity

Apart from a brief flirtation with the playoffs in 2009 and one other 5th placed finish Wakefield Trinity have consistently fulfilled the low expectations placed upon them during the Super League era. They go into this season with similar predictions of doom following them. 

Relegation should be back on the table in 2021 which has sparked the annual discussion about whether this will be the year that Trinity finally disappear from the Super League scene. Theirs seems to be the first name that comes up when the dark mutterings start about ‘an M62 sport’ and clubs who ‘offer nothing’. 

Yet Trinity - under five-year coach Chris Chester - would relish defying their detractors again. One thing they ‘offered’ Super League in 2020 is that they managed to complete more league games (19) than any of the other top flight clubs. That despite several Covid outbreaks at the club, one of which prompted Chester to suggest locking down the club for five days in September. 

That was in the midst of a 10-game losing streak which eventually saw Wakefield finish 10th of 11 clubs after Toronto’s withdrawal, winning just five and suffering 14 defeats during the regular season. If any club had a reason to swerve the odd fixture it is Wakefield, so it is to their credit that they kept plugging away and fulfilling their fixtures. There were signs of hope in narrow defeats to Hull FC (26-27 & 23-26), Wigan (22-23) and Saints (16-20). They had beaten Warrington 18-8 before Covid completely altered the landscape. But largely it was a disappointing, dispiriting, Covid-ridden campaign for the men from Belle Vue.

The recruitment for 2021 has been minimal, heightening the doubters’ suspicions that Trinity might finally exit the stage. Halfback Mason Lino is the headline act in terms of new signings. The 27 year-old joins from Newcastle Knights in the NRL, where he has made 17 appearances since making the same number for New Zealand Warriors between 2015-18. Lino replaces the veteran Danny Brough whose final season with Trinity before joining Bradford Bulls was wrecked by injury.

Outside of Lino there is only the retention of two players who had already spent time on loan at Wakefield in 2020. Innes Senior is one of Huddersfield’s crop of exciting young backs and he extends the loan deal that saw him score four tries in seven appearances last term. Up front is Eddie Battye, a skilful prop-forward who played eight times on loan to Wakefield from London Broncos last term. Battye now has a three-year deal with Trinity and will add great experience. Aside from the Broncos with whom he has played in Super League Battye has also had two spells with Sheffield Eagles and spent time in France with Villeneuve Leopards.

The list of those heading out of Belle Vue is a little longer. As well as Brough stalwart forwards Danny Kirmond and Craig Kopczak have moved on to York City Knights and Featherstone Rovers respectively, while Romain Navarette’s loan spell from Wigan has come to an end. In the back division both winger Ben Jones-Bishop and fullback or stand-off Tony Gigot were released.   If there are no more moves in the transfer market from Chester before the season kicks off next weekend then the squad might seem a little threadbare.

But let’s stick to the positives. After all, Wakefield haven’t managed to hang around in the big league since 1998 by being negative. In winger Tom Johnstone and back rower Kelepi Tanginoa Wakefield have two outstanding talents who would improve any other Super League club. Jacob Miller is a clever operator in the halves so hopes should be high that his link-up with Lino will be productive. If the pair can fire the bullets then the three-quarter line features not only Johnstone but the speedy Reece Lyne and the rather more direct but no less effective Bill Tupou. Lyne was good enough for an England call-up for the international with France in 2018 and was in the 9s squad which competed in the World Cup a year later. 

Along with Tanginoa the pack is led by David Fifita, a man with both an interesting hairstyle and a superior namesake trotting around for Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. The Wakefield Fifita can light up games but is very much a mood player. He spent much of last season out of favour after refusing to wear his GPS tracker which was part of the Super League’s track and trace protocols. Getting a tune out of him would be a massive boost but is among Chester’s trickiest challenges. 

The Woods, Josh and Kyle, should share the hooking duties while Tinirau Arona is another versatile and useful forward. Matty Ashurst is a consistent performer who - while deemed not quite good enough for Saints in his youth - has been one of Wakefield’s more reliable players since arriving in 2014 after three seasons at Salford. Yet there have to be question marks over Wakefield’s depth in the pack compared with some of the other sides in Super League. This is a side with plenty of pace and strike but not one you’d fancy to be able to impose its will in the forward battle long enough to be able to utilise that speed.

It’s a big year then for Chester. Five years is a long time for players to listen to the same voice in the dressing room, especially if it is a period of struggle. A good start will help, but will be difficult when you consider the fixture list. They start with a meeting with Leeds Rhinos at Headingley in Round 1, which is arguably the easy bit with games against Wigan and Saints to follow in the next two. Round 4 sees Hull FC host Trinity before April ends with a visit from Catalans Dragons.

If Trinity are in a relegation battle then perhaps the final five fixtures will be of even greater importance.  A trip to Hull KR starts the run-in on the weekend of 26-27 August before September starts with a visit from the Rhinos. Trips to Huddersfield and Leigh follow before the regular season ends with a home clash with Hull FC. 

There are more likely relegation candidates than Wakefield. Leigh’s off-the-field elevation to Super League has seen them installed as most people’s favourites while Hull KR have had another off-season off large scale change which looks unconvincing. Yet simply avoiding the drop is probably not success for Trinity and should not be their target. Publicly it won’t be, but it is hard to make a case for Chester’s side troubling the playoff schedulers come September.

Saints 24 Leigh Centurions 25 - Review

Ok...ok...ok. Let’s not phone the Samaritans just because we lost. Saints went down 25-24 to Leigh Centurions in Tommy Makinson’s testimonial. Ryan Brierley’s late drop-goal proved the difference in what was an entertaining enough affair. But how much can we read into it ahead of the new Super League season which starts in less than a fortnight?

Friendlies have their limits in terms of what you can learn about your squad. Winning is always an objective, particularly for a club that is back-to-back champions playing against a newly promoted side. But that’s an expectation that comes from fans, media and facetious bloggers. Losing the game ought not to worry Kristian Woolf too much. 

What he should be more concerned with is whether he got enough out of the game in terms of preparing his side for the Super League opener against Salford Red Devils. This is Saints only friendly tune-up before then, yet Woolf chose to play more than half of it with several of the more inexperienced players on the field together. It’s obviously great for them to get game time, but it’s not unreasonable to question how much they gain from being pitched in at the same time. We saw in an infinitely more damaging defeat to Salford last year - one that ultimately cost us a third consecutive league leaders shield - how disjointed and scrappy the team can become when it is loaded with too many youngsters at once. Far better to drip feed them in to a stronger side so we can get a sense of exactly where they would fit in if they were really needed.

Which is the crux of the issue around playing time. The likes of Nico Rizelli, Jake Wingfield, Tom Nisbet and even Josh Eaves will probably not be needed when the serious stuff starts. But should they be we are none the wiser about how they would look when slotted in to Saints strongest side at a crucial moment. 

Lewis Dodd is one youngster who has shown enough to suggest that he does have Woolf’s trust. He again got good minutes here. They were much needed after another insipid display from Theo Fages. When conditions are windy then kicking the ball low is a wise tactic. The problem was one of execution as Fages repeatedly failed to get the ball through the defensive line, instead serving it up appetisingly for the Leigh backs to recover easy ball. It’s too early to write Fages off but if any of the senior players are under serious threat from young players coming through it is the Frenchman. He’s more frustrating than the buffering on your Our League stream.

A consequence of over-using the youth was that we didn’t get to see as much of the new signings as we would like. Joel Thompson started the game along with Sione Mata’utia while Dan Norman and Agnatius Paasi came in off the bench. Thompson crossed for a confidence-boosting try after winning the race to Jack Welsby’s clever grubber. Paasi’s highlight was catching a second half restart which had been held in the wind and travelled only about 10 metres as a result. Paasi plucked it out of the air in stride. There’s nothing wrong with his hands on that evidence. He could not have taken it more smoothly if his name had been James Tedesco. He showed some other good touches which suggest that the cry of ‘go on Aggy’ will be prevalent at home matches for the first time since Sir Roy of The Elephant Hotel was running around Saints back row in the 1980s.

As well as the choices Woolf made to limit his stars’ involvement Saints were further hampered by some notable forced absentees. Lachlan Coote and Joe Batchelor had been ruled out when the 28-man squad was named two days before the game. Yet there were no sightings of Regan Grace, Matty Lees or Morgan Knowles. Mata’utia started at loose forward with Kevin Naiqama occupying Grace’s left wing spot. Josh Simm moved into Naiqama’s regular right centre role. Lees’ absence meant Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook got a start at prop, which I’m sure we can all agree is not something that will happen often in a side taking itself seriously as title contenders. 

James Roby picked up a head injury in the opening minutes and was not seen again. That is a slight concern though with a weekend off before the Salford game we can be hopeful that the skipper will be ok by then. His exit did give Woolf a chance to assess which of Aaron Smith and Eaves is better placed to back up the great man. Smith hasn’t been favoured by Woolf since the Tongan coach arrived at the start of 2020 but that could change if Roby’s concussion is significant enough to sideline him.

The moaning over with, what went well? Makinson was named Man Of The Match by his old mate Jon Wilkin in the commentary box. That was even before Makinson took Nisbet’s impressive offload and scored his second try followed by his fourth goal which seemed to have earned Saints a draw before Brierley’s intervention. It might not be a coincidence that Leigh started to reassert their early dominance when Makinson was taken off just after half-time having helped Saints build an 18-6 advantage. His return coincided with another swing of the pendulum in Saints direction but it was not quite enough as it turned out.

If Makinson was a plus then so too was Mark Percival. His break for Naiqama’s first half try was arguably the turning point of the opening 40. Until then Leigh had dominated territory and possession without making it count on the scoreboard. That was testament to Saints defence which held firm for the most part and only started to flake when the regulars headed for the bench. Among them was Percival.  In that one moment as he latched on to Jonny Lomax’s perfectly timed pass and streaked away to put Naiqama in Percival reminded us of what we have been missing during his injury struggles of the recent past. I don’t think anyone would argue with Woolf exercising caution around the fitness of the England centre.

The pressure that Saints came under - particularly early when their starters were still on the field - will have demonstrated to Woolf that his side will be difficult to score against next season. That’s often what titles are built on. Yet with no more games between now and that meeting with former assistant coach Richard Marshall’s new Salford side, there is still work to do on the training field if Saints are going to find their attacking timing and cohesion in time.  

Saints v Leigh Centurions - Preview

For obvious reasons documented ceaselessly on social and mainstream media the rugby league off-season has run a little longer than usual. At the time of writing it is 105 days since Jack Welsby wrote a thrilling chapter in the game’s history by scoring that late Grand Final winner. It is high-time we had some action. 

Relief is imminent. The NRL got under way this week and the Super League action kicks off in a fortnight. In preparation for an assault on a third straight Super League title Saints host Leigh Centurions in Tommy Makinson’s testimonial match this Saturday (March 13, kick-off 6.00pm).

Since this isn’t quite the serious stuff yet coach Kristian Woolf has been able to name a 28-man squad. Only fullback Lachlan Coote and back rower Joe Batchelor miss out after picking up minor knocks in training this week. Both are expected to be fit for the Round 1 clash with Salford Red Devils on March 26.

Welsby is one of the candidates to replace Coote in the number 1 role from the start of this one. Jonny Lomax is another, which would allow Lewis Dodd to get valuable game time in the halves. After making his first team debut in 2020 hopes are high that Dodd can become a regular in the next couple of seasons. What that would mean for Theo Fages is unclear though there are those who would still like to see the Frenchman move into the hooking role in preparation for that day we all dread when the credits roll on James Roby’s career. For now the legend continues with Aaron Smith and Josh Eaves vying to be first to fill in.

Mark Percival missed a huge chunk of last season through injury but is now fit to take his place in the squad. While he has been away both Welsby and Josh Simm have enhanced their reputations and could create genuine competition for the spot. Percival is still a class act but after a torrid time with injuries will be looking to re-establish his authority. 

Regan Grace will start most often outside Percival on the left wing. The Welshman has become one of the stars of the league in the last four years but the lack of depth behind him is one of the areas of concern in the squad since Adam Swift’s move to Hull FC. On the opposite edge man of the moment Makinson is a certainty when fit as is Fijian centre Kevin Naiqama on his inside.

It is in the pack where Saints will look markedly different. James Graham and Zeb Taia have retired while Dominique Peyroux is now in Toulouse. Or wherever it is that Toulouse play this week. In come Tongan Agnatius Paasi from New Zealand Warriors and Dan Norman from London Broncos to compete with Alex Walmsley, Matty Lees, Kyle Amor and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook for places in the front row. The long established second row pairing of Taia and Peyroux have been replaced by Joel Thompson from Manly Sea Eagles and Sione Mata’utia from Newcastle Knights, though James Bentley still has a strong case for inclusion after finally edging out Peyroux in 2020. Morgan Knowles will continue to offer his indefatigable combination of punishing defence and carrying out all of the tasks that are rugby league’s equivalent to mucking out down at the yard. 

With such a sizeable squad available there is enough room for youngsters Jake Wingfield, Tom Nisbet, Matty Foster and Nico Rizelli - all of whom made their senior debuts in 2020 - and 21 year-old back rower Sam Royle who has yet to feature in the first team.

There are a few notable absentees from the Leigh squad as they prepare for another crack at the top flight. I’m sure we’ll all miss the presence of unbalanced, past-whatever-his-best-was 2014 Grand Final villain Ben Flower while winger Lewis Tierney is another former employee of the club from the town who gave us Limahl that will not feature. Fellow new recruits James Bell, Brendan Elliot and Tyrone McCarthy will also sit this one out. Bell is a centre who has been playing for Toulouse in the Championship after a stint with New Zealand Warriors while Elliot also plays in the back division and can list Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights, Gold Coast Titans and Manly Sea Eagles among his former clubs.

So, plenty of quality on the sideline for Leigh but they still can call on plenty of talent. Ryan Brierley and Jamie Ellis are back from Hull KR while former Grand Finalist Matty Russell and the once highly-rated halfback Joe Mellor are among four recruits from Toronto Wolfpack. Junior S’au is an experienced Super League centre and Nathaniel Peteru will hope to establish himself as a Super League force after underwhelming spells with Leeds and Hull KR. Liam Hood captains the side this year and will no doubt lean on others with top flight experience like Alex Gerrard, Adam Sidlow, Iain Thornley and Jordan Thompson. 

Ten years at one club is an all too rare occurrence in today’s game so their ought to be an air of celebration on the night, even though fans can only be a part of it via their Our League stream. Saints will be fancied for a win too, though the need to use this one run out as preparation for the real thing makes it difficult to predict how either Woolf or Centurions coach John Duffy will use their squads. 

The result is not hugely important but anything other than a comfortable Saints win will no doubt break the internet. I expect a win, but isn’t it just enough for now that actual live rugby league is back in our living rooms? Saints by 18.

Super League 2021 Preview - St Helens

 For many the 2020 season was memorable for all the wrong reasons. A stoppage of over four months was followed by a stuttering restart packed with postponements and fixture swaps before the regular season was abruptly curtailed. Yet if you are a Saints fan your memories of it will be rather more positive. 

Few titles in the history of any sport can have been won in circumstances as dramatic, heart-stopping and downright miraculous as the moment when Jack Welsby beat Bevan French to the ball to touch down after Tommy Makinson’s last-gasp, long range drop-goal attempt clanged off the KCom Stadium upright on Grand Final night.

The image of Adrian Lam’s sullen, lost-a-tenner-and-found-a-penny kipper in the aftermath is etched on the memory of Saints fans, forced to sit and watch it unfold on TV. It’s probably a blessing that we were not there to see it in what outside of a pandemic would have been a packed Old Trafford. Had we been, we might very well have reached the point where any attempt to experience something more glorious and exciting would have been futile. There would arguably have been literally no point carrying on.  Kind of how George felt in Blackadder Goes Forth when he met Squadron Commander Lord Flasheart in the trench and declared that he hoped he’d snuff it there and then to preserve the moment forever.

That unforgettable victory ensured a second consecutive Super League title for Saints. The coach had changed - Kristian Woolf coming in to replace Justin Holbrook - but after a bumpy start pre-pandemic the restart Saints were as consistent as ever. After losing to Warrington, Huddersfield and Castleford in the old world Woolf’s side embarked on a 13-game unbeaten run behind closed doors. Only Woolf’s pragmatic decision to select five debutants for a match with Salford and so rest his stars for the bigger games to come ultimately cost Saints a third consecutive League Leaders Shield. That honour went to Wigan after what at the time seemed a concerning 18-6 defeat in the final game before the playoffs began. Saints would make up for that in the grandest fashion.

If losing the league leadership was a mild disappointment it didn’t match the pain of being bumped out of the Challenge Cup by Warrington in the quarter-finals. That game turned when a suspiciously forward pass bounced fortuitously off the head of off-his-head ‘man of the people’ Anthony Gelling to allow Josh Charnley to score. Having seen Wire win the Challenge Cup against Saints at Wembley a year earlier there was some consolation when the Wolves were then dumped out by Salford in the last four. 

The chances of topping the Grand Final denouement may be slim but a third title in a row remains a realistic aim. The main area of the squad which has seen dramatic change is in the second row, where long-time starting duo Zeb Taia and Dominique Peyroux have both moved on. Taia has retired after a stellar three year spell which saw him win the Grand Final and the League Leaders shield twice each. Peyroux has perhaps surprisingly been allowed to move to Toulouse in the Championship. Peyroux endured a rocky start to his Saints career under Keiron Cunningham but was one of the most consistent performers for two years under Holbrook. Yet last year saw James Bentley edge Peyroux out of a starting slot, paving the way for the latter’s exit. 

If Bentley is to continue starting in the second row he’ll need to beat off competition from at least one of Saints new recruits. Joel Thompson arrives from Manly Sea Eagles after a storied NRL career that has seen him make 235 appearances during spells with Canberra Raiders, St George-Illawarra Dragons and the Sea Eagles. The 32 year-old Thompson played most of his rugby on the left edge for Manly in 2020 and could slot straight in to the position vacated by Taia. He is more conservative in style than Taia, not as fond of an offload, but should be a solid, dependable presence. 

Joining him is a player who was once one of the most exciting prospects in world rugby. Sione Mata’utia became the youngest player to represent Australia at Test level in 2014 when he played on the wing against New Zealand in that year’s Four Nations at the age of 18. Since then he has spent most of his time playing in the second row for Newcastle Knights, where he has amassed 124 appearances and crossed for 31 tries. He is the brother of Castleford utility back Peter Mata’utia, though it would be fair to say that Sione’s approach to the game is a touch more physical and direct. If Mata’utia and Thompson both start in a new look second row it could push Bentley to the loose forward position which many feel could be his best. Yet when you have Morgan Knowles also knocking around - one of the most consistent and best defensive players anywhere in Super League - it becomes clear that someone extremely capable is going to miss out on a start. There should always be a high quality back row option on the Saints bench this year if everyone is fit.

James Graham was only ever a short-term solution to the loss of Luke Thompson midway through last season. Graham follows Taia into retirement, the response to which has been to add two new props to the squad. That need was highlighted even more by Jack Ashworth’s move to Huddersfield Giants. In come the wonderfully named former New Zealand Warrior Agnatius Paasi and the slightly more straight-forwardly monikered Dan Norman from London Broncos. Paasi was one of four New Zealand Warriors (along with new Leeds Rhinos recruit King Vuniyayawa) who opted out of playing during the pandemic when travel restrictions meant that the New Zealand side had to base themselves in Australia for the duration of the season. Despite that inactivity the 29 year-old does have 107 NRL appearances under his belt including a 54-game spell with Gold Coast Titans from 2015-17. 

Norman is a much younger, arguably more raw talent. His 6ft 5 frame has sparked some possibly unfair and certainly premature comparisons with Alex Walmsley. Walmsley has been one of Super League’s best front rowers since arriving from Batley in 2013. He will continue to be a vital cog in the machine but if 23 year-old Norman can emulate half of what Walmsley has done in the game he will have been a success. He has some Super League experience from his time with Widnes Vikings but is possibly one for the future with Walmsley, Paasi, Matty Lees and Kyle Amor all competing for front row spots either side of legendary hooker James Roby. 

The number nine role might be one area of concern going forward given Roby’s age and Woolf’s seeming reluctance to place much faith in Aaron Smith. Bentley has been an option there in the past and talk among fans of Theo Fages switching to dummy half to allow for Lewis Dodd’s emergence at halfback probably won’t go away. Josh Eaves will also hope to get the opportunity to build on the three appearances he has made so far in his Saints career, only one of which came last term.

The only change in the back line sees Matty Costello follow former assistant coach Richard Marshall to Salford Red Devils. This relative inactivity will upset those who like to see shiny new signings arrive in the skill positions but there is a fair argument that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. At fullback Lachlan Coote has been brilliant enough to turn Ben Barba into a wistful memory over the last two years while Tommy Makinson and Regan Grace hold down the wing roles. With Costello gone there may be a lack of depth at the wing position but his opportunities were going to be limited by the emergence of Welsby and Josh Simm. Either could fill in out wide while Welsby has also played for the first team at fullback and stand-off. Still only 20 by the time Saints kick-off against Salford on March 27, Welsby could be a mainstay of this Saints squad for as long as the testimonial-celebrating Makinson has been around. Given the way they combined in the Grand Final last year, both could never play for Saints again and still be assured of their place in the club’s folklore.

With so few additions expect Mark Percival and Kevin Naiqama to be the starting centre pair, with Welsby or Simm ready to step in if Percival is still bothered by the persistent injuries which have dogged him recently. It’s a big year for Percival. Still only 26, he should have his best rugby still ahead of him. Yet he will need his body to be more reliable if he is to slow the progression of Simm or Welsby.

Dodd is an intriguing prospect in the halves. The 19 year-old made three first team appearances last year - enough to convince many including this observer that he should be ready to put real pressure on Fages to keep his place alongside stand-off Jonny Lomax. The latter may be 30 now but like Roby shows no signs of ceasing to be one of the premier stars not just of the Saints team but of the whole competition. He can only help bring Dodd on to help give Woolf genuine options in midfield. 

With Marshall taking up the opportunity to be the main man at the AJ Bell the other bit of housekeeping to report is that Paul Wellens is currently Woolf’s main assistant. Steeped in the club after a monumental 17-year playing career, Wellens has expectations on him from some quarters to develop into a successful head coach. His progress is one to watch - but there can’t be a Saints fan out there who isn’t entertaining thoughts of caution given the wretched experience of Cunningham after starting out in a similar role. Let’s be careful what we wish for without blindly assuming that Wellens would necessarily suffer the same fate. The pacing of Wellens’ development is something the club has to get right.

Though it isn’t viewed with the same enthusiasm since the advent of the Grand Final I begin every season as a Saints fan hoping for a good run at the League Leaders Shield. In a competition which demands you win a one-off game at the end to be crowned champions there are so many variables which could shatter your dreams. But cementing your place as the most consistent side over a 25-game schedule seems a more controllable aim. After that you’d back Saints to beat anyone while accepting that the cards could fall another way at Old Trafford. Or Hull, if need be. As Welsby will testify the bounce of the ball in Grand Finals can be decisive. 

The bid for a third League Leaders Shield in four seasons starts with that meeting with Salford before Hull KR, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Leigh provide the rest of a very winnable first five. The Easter derby with Wigan will now take place in August in the hope that Covid restrictions have been sufficiently relaxed to allow fans to attend, while similar principles see all of Warrington, Leeds and Catalans on the schedule during the run in from Rounds 22-24. 

The regular campaign ends how it starts - with Salford - before hopefully another playoff run and a chance to be the first club to win three in a row since Leeds Rhinos between 2007-09. I’m told Adrian Lam can’t wait to see it.

 

Super League 2021 Preview - Salford Red Devils

 The 2020 season was always going to be a testing one for Salford Red Devils. Amid the now annual high turnover of players at the AJ Bell Stadium few expected them to match their 2019 heroics when they went all the way to Old Trafford before losing to Saints in the Grand Final. 

It’s fair to say Salford did not hit those heights in the bread and butter business of Super League last time around. They finished a disappointing ninth once three of their eight wins had been deducted for some highly complex financial chicanery. Yet even with those wins the Red Devils would have only managed to finish 7th. After almost shocking the rugby league world in 2019 Ian Watson’s side deservedly missed out on the playoffs in 2020. 

The heroics were reserved for the Challenge Cup. Dan Sarginson scored a golden point try to take Salford past Catalans Dragons in the quarter finals. In the last four the Red Devils edged out the more fancied Warrington Wolves 24-22 to set up a unique, October Challenge Cup final behind closed Wembley doors. Agonisingly, Salford were edged out 17-16 by Leeds Rhinos. Yet in reaching two major finals in two years Salford under Watson had shaken off their tag of perennial strugglers and morphed into trophy contenders. Only Saints have reached more finals over the past two seasons.

But Salford’s future is one without Watson. Sooner or later other suitors were going to start noticing his uncanny knack of turning a team of apparent journeymen and misfits into something cohesive and formidable. That suitor is Huddersfield Giants, sleeping like the cliche of their nickname since winning the League Leaders Shield in 2013. Richard Marshall comes in to replace Watson as head coach at the AJ Bell, fresh from assisting both Justin Holbrook and Kristian Woolf to back-to-back Grand Final successes with Saints. It is not Marshall’s first head coaching job. He coached Halifax to three top four Championship finishes between 2015-19. Yet it is the first time he has had the reins at a Super League club, and one whose expectations might be markedly different from what they would have been two years ago.

Those expectations might be tempered a little by another off season of change to the playing roster. It seems the better Salford fare the more likely it is that their players will move on. Even in a salary capped sport a club which was averaging attendances of only just over 4,000 when the pandemic hit is at a financial disadvantage to some of its better supported rivals. 

Perhaps the biggest loss from the 2020 squad is Niall Evalds. The 27 year-old Yorkshire native heads back east of the Pennines to Castleford Tigers after eight seasons at Salford. During that time he has become a key factor in Salford’s rise, scoring 101 tries in 146 appearances from fullback. His eye for a break and ability to support the ball carrier should make him a perfect fit for the Tigers’ style but leaves a hole for Marshall to fill. Morgan Escare arrives from Wigan where he was limited to 77 appearances in a four-year spell having made 91 for Catalans over a similar period prior to that. The 29 year-old has speed and kicks goals (though good luck ousting the excellent Krisnan Inu from that responsibility) but may not be as defensively reliable as Evalds.

Gil Dudson’s career wasn’t really going anywhere until he got to Salford. Yet now, as he makes the switch to Catalans Dragons, Dudson is a significant loss to the pack. He reinvented himself under Watson after never quite convincing during spells with Wigan and Widnes in the first half of his career. He made 46 appearances for Salford after joining in 2019 and was an integral part of their run to both major finals in the space of 12 months. Along the way he has made 15 appearances for Wales. 

Replacing Dudson in Salford’s prop forward corps is former Toronto Wolfpack man Darcy Lussick. He just misses out on teaming up with brother Joey who leaves Salford after two and a half years to join Parramatta Eels in the NRL.  Darcy brings with him experience of 118 NRL appearances in two spells with Manly either side of a stint with the Eels. At 31 he still has a few good years in him and could be a solid acquisition.

One of the more exciting signings for Salford fans has to be that of Joe Burgess. Unfortunately the former Wigan winger will miss the start of the season with an ankle injury. If it requires surgery Burgess could be out for up to 12 weeks. Yet when they get him on the park Salford have found themselves a prolific try-scorer with the kind of pace that worries defences at any level. Burgess ran in 101 tries in his two spells at Wigan, and also impressed with five tries in nine appearances for South Sydney Rabbitohs before deciding to cut short his NRL experiment and return to Wigan. He has three England caps and - at 26 - the potential for more once he gets a run in the Red Devils side.

Another player of great potential is Harvey Livett. Capable in the back row or at stand-off, Livett’s career has stalled a little since being loaned out to Hull KR from Warrington in 2019. Yet he had shown enough by then to earn England Knights representative honours in 2018. A move to Salford where regular action should be easier to come by could provide Livett with the impetus he needs to get his career going again. 

Also looking for a fresh start will be Matty Costello and Jack Wells. Costello was once the understudy to Mark Percival and Kevin Naiqama at Saints but had fallen down the pecking order since the emergence of Jack Welsby and Josh Simm. He will hope that teaming up again with Marshall will help him cement more regular playing time. With Burgess out early on there might be an opportunity for Costello to get into that three-quarter line though when everyone is fit again he faces tough competition not only from Burgess but also Inu, Sarginson, Kallum Watkins, Rhys Williams and Ken Sio.

Wells suffered a bad injury during Wigan’s 42-0 shellacking by Saints at the end of September but will hope to break into a Red Devils back row that has lost the likes of Mark Flanagan (retirement) and the released Tyrone McCarthy but also added Livett and Danny Addy from Leigh. Former Bradford and Huddersfield man Oliver Roberts is another option in that area having extended his loan deal from the Giants for the whole of 2021.

The back row is likely to be much changed with the new additions while up front they will need Lussick to have an impact if they are not to rely too heavily on the enigma that is Pauli Pauli, the inconsistent Sebastine Ikahihifo and the 32 year-old Lee Mossop. Meanwhile adding to the array of talent across the three-quarter line the Red Devils have creativity in midfield through veteran Kevin Brown and the always exciting Tui Lolohea. What happens when Brown suffers the inevitable string of injuries is less certain, though Dec Patton has arrived from Warrington where he has often proved a more than able deputy without ever convincing Steve Price that he should be the main man. Both Addy and Livett can fill in at either of the halfback positions in an emergency.

As always for the clubs with loser budgets getting their best team on the park consistently will be key. Brown and Lolohea are central to that but a backline of Escare, Sio, Sarginson, Watkins and Inu compares favourably with most. It’s up front where Marshall doesn’t seem to have the same kind of depth at his disposal. The trouble is that is exactly where games are so often won or lost.

A good start is always helpful so Marshall could have had a kinder opener than a meeting with Saints at Headingley in the opening round. After that it’s a Hull FC side looking to finally fulfil its potential under Brett Hodgson, a meeting with Catalans Dragons in Round 3, new boys Leigh in Round 4 and Castleford in Round 5. Salford will hope their end of season run-in will form part of the playoff conversation. The Dragons, Hull, Tigers and Saints all feature again in Salford’s final five with Warrington Wolves the other late season test. 

We’ve come to expect the unexpected with Salford over the last two seasons but if you were to ask Marshall he might consider a year of unspectacular consolidation to be a success. The most intriguing aspect of Salford’s journey will be finding out how many of these players are genuinely good enough to form a consistent side and how far they were elevated by Watson’s wizardry in the coaching department. Top six is possible, but far from expected.