James Roby returns as St Helens look to experience for bounce-back win

St Helens lost out in a tight and feisty affair with Leeds Rhinos last Friday night and Paul Wellens has had a lot to deal with in the aftermath.

The fixture didn’t just mark the first loss of his tenure but it also threw into contention the suspension of some key players.

That’s mean that Wellens has had to reshuffle his squad for their trip to Leigh on Friday night and the key move that has been made is the reintroduction of leader James Roby.

The enforced changes for Wellens are the suspended Sione Mata’utia, Curtis Sironen and Konrad Hurrell.

Stepping in to replace those three are Roby, Agnatius Paasi and Wesley Bruines who is named in a squad for the first time since arriving this season.

Bruines has joined from South Sydney Rabbitohs and scored a hatrick this past weekend for the St Helens’ reserves against Newcastle Thunder.

That game saw the reserves win 72-4 and his performance has clearly impressed and coupled with the trio of suspensions he has been able to capitalise and finds himself in line to feature against Leigh on Friday.

Saints will be looking for a return to form but face a Leigh side that will be full of confidence having beaten a strong Hull KR side in similar last minute fashion to the way that Saints lost.

🔵 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🔵

Paul Wellens has named his 21-man squad for Friday night's trip to Leigh Leopards!#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 8, 2023

St Helens 21-man squad vs Leigh Leopards
1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Lewis Dodd, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Matty Lees, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Joey Lussick, 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 18. Jake Wingfield, 19. James Bell, 20. Dan Norman, 21. Ben Davies ,22. Sam Royle, 24. Lewis Baxter, 25. Tee Ritson, 34. Wesley Bruines