Both Saints players suffered injuries in the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Final loss to Leigh Leopards last Saturday afternoon, with Paasi needing assistance to come off the field.

Head Coach Paul Wellens referenced Paasi in his post-match conference, saying that his knee had been “blown to smithereens” and it has now been confirmed that unfortunately Agnatius is likely to miss at least nine months of action with ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), MCL (medial collateral ligament), and ankle ligament injuries.

Alex Walmsley has sadly injured his MCL which will end his 2023 season and requires surgery which has happened today.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Morgan Knowles also suffered knocks following tackles made in the Semi-Final fixture, with McCarthy-Scarsbrook expected to miss at least two weeks, whilst Knowles could feature in our upcoming Super League game this week if he passes his fitness checks and is declared fit to play.

Saints will now take on Leeds Rhinos in a Grand Final rematch knowing that Alex Walmsley and Agnatius Paasi will be absent.

As will Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook who is out for two weeks.

Meanwhile, Morgan Knowles stands a 50/50 chance of being fit for the fixture.

Despite all of this talk and the dismay that Asiata wasn’t banned, Richard Silverwood has gone on social media to explain why the tackle on Paasi wasn’t foul play:

“As much as you don’t like to see players injured, if Holmes isn’t coming in the other side it is a perfect legs tackle by Asiata. It’s the hit low one side, hit high the other that’s bent Paasi In half. Do we go 1 in the tackle next.