St Helens’ transition from 2021 to 2022 was perhaps their biggest for around half a decade, but looking at their performances on the field you wouldn’t know it.
The Champions have won three games from three and have only conceded 18 points within the first 240 minutes of their season with only three tries scored against them.
What makes this all the more impressive is the upheaval St Helens have endured on their right flank. Going into the new season, the plan was no doubt to keep Tommy Makinson on the right alongside new signing Will Hopoate. But the injury to Regan Grace saw Hopoate move onto the right wing with Makinson filling the void left by Grace on the left as another new signing, Konrad Hurrell, stepped into the right centre position for Round One.
However, this was changed again when Josh Simm was called upon last week. A rib injury to Will Hopoate ensured he was unable to feature again after a promising debut against Catalans. So, Simm came onto the wing and scored twice against Hull FC and stayed there against Wakefield last night with Hopoate still not being ready to feature.
Following this, coach Kristian Woolf revealed when he expects Hopoate to be back.
Speaking on St Helens’ official Twitter page ahead of the game against Wakefield, Woolf said: “He has [a chance of being back next week] he just hasn’t settled as much as we would have liked. He’ll definitely be available next week I think.
“It’s one of those injuries with it being so early in the year if we push through and get more damage to it then it runs the risk of being out for six or seven weeks.”
🗣 The boss on his unchanged line up this evening and news on Will Hopoate’s potential return date… 🔜#COYS pic.twitter.com/5aldDvPfM6
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 25, 2022
Despite his absence, St Helens did not appear to miss him with Simm again crossing for a try making it three in two games for the youngster.
