St Helens have had some significant team news for Friday’s Super League clash against York Knights and we’ve predicted how they could line up.
The Saints have named full-back Jack Welsby in their squad for the first time since round one when the 25-year-old dislocated his shoulder in the process of scoring against Warrington Wolves.
Ahead of the initially reported schedule, Welsby is now back and in with a chance of featuring but Paul Rowley is faced with a massive dilemma on both Welsby’s match readiness and also if he should move stand-in Tristan Sailor, who has been superb in the early stages of the season.
Should Welsby not play this week then Rowley may have the even tougher call of whether to throw him back in next week in a game of far bigger significance, Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup semi-finals.
Welsby’s return isn’t the only boost Saints have had this week as the club have also landed Bill Leyland back on loan from Hull KR, meaning there are plenty of matters for Paul Rowley to consider.
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How could St Helens line up against York Knights?
The major dilemma is whether to start Jack Welsby or not, and if not then would Paul Rowley carry two spine players on the bench in Welsby and Bill Leyland?
That is something that the St Helens boss has done early in the season, using Jonny Lomax as a hooker off the bench whilst also carrying an outside back but with most of the club’s forwards now back fit, it’s perhaps less likely.
Given how injury-affected St Helens were early in the season, they may not want to tempt fate and therefore could play Welsby off the bench, allowing the in-form Tristan Sailor to continue his impressive form from the position.
Changes will be made in the backs though as Deon Cross misses out through a HIA and Nene Macdonald could return at centre, with Lee Briers confirming that the Papua New Guinean had been very close last week.
Jonny Lomax and Jackson Hastings would remain in the halves with an experienced pack headed up by captain Matty Lees, veteran David Klemmer and back three Shane Wright, Matt Whitley and Joe Shorrocks.
It would mean no start for Jake Davies, who has scored three in three, but if Rowley wants to accommodate both Leyland and Welsby on the bench then the young forward may have to settle for 18th man.
In this situation, Noah Stephens would also miss out as well as young half George Whitby, showcasing just how tough St Helens’ selection is this week.
Other iterations could see Jonny Lomax dropped with Tristan Sailor in the halves and Jack Welsby starting, whilst the versatility of Harry Robertson also opens up a number of possibilities regarding his position.
Predicted XIII: Tristan Sailor; Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Nene Macdonald, Owen Dagnall; Jonny Lomax, Jackson Hastings; Matty Lees, Daryl Clark, David Klemmer; Shane Wright, Matt Whitley; Joe Shorrocks
Interchanges: Alex Walmsley, George Delaney, Bill Leyland, Jack Welsby
