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Predicted St Helens v Catalans Dragons teams with Tristan Sailor and Jonny Lomax calls made

St Helens take on Catalans Dragons tonight but there are key questions over if and where both Tristan Sailor and Jonny Lomax play.

The St Helens spine has been one of the big talking points in Super League in recent weeks with the initial honeymoon period of Tristan Sailor’s arrival having ended in Round Three.

NRL recruit Sailor starred on debut against a Salford Red Devils side comprising mainly of academy players but after Saints’ loss to Hull KR in Round Four, the attacking issues of 2024 seem to have re-emerged for the Red Vee.

Positional switches have been tried with Sailor and Jack Welsby swapping whilst captain Jonny Lomax has also been dropped but it’s still unclear what the answer is.

Another side whose spine hasn’t clicked yet is Catalans Dragons with Luke Keary not taking the competition by storm as many expected, whilst injury issues for Sam Tomkins have prevented him for large parts of the year.

Saints host Catalans tonight in a crucial game and we’ve predicted how both sides could line up.

How could St Helens line up against Catalans

Paul Wellens named Jonny Lomax to the bench against Leeds but quickly brought his captain on in a move that saw Tristan Sailor shift to the wing. Speaking to the media, he confirmed that was an option this week and it’s one we think he’ll opt for.

It’s nigh impossible to drop Sailor so shifting him onto the wing seems likely because it allows Jack Welsby to move to his preferred position, keeps George Whitby in the team and allows for the control and calm of Lomax in the halves.

Another decision Wellens will have to make is whether to start Agnatius Paasi or Alex Walmsley with the latter dropping to the bench last time out.

Deon Cross could make his home debut in the centres on account of Sailor playing on the wing, something that suits whilst Harry Robertson remains out injured.

Predicted St Helens XIII: Jack Welsby; Tristan Sailor, Deon Cross, Mark Percival, Lewis Murphy; Jonny Lomax, George Whitby; Agnatius Paasi, Moses Mbye, Matty Lees; Curtis Sironen, Matt Whitley, Morgan Knowles

Interchanges: Daryl Clark, George Delaney, Alex Walmsley, Jake Wingfield

How could Catalans Dragons line up against Saints

Catalans have a number of injury issues to key players meaning they could only name a 20-man squad. Sam Tomkins is out with a knee infection, captain Benjamin Garcia is missing on account of a groin injury, whilst Tommy Makinson and Julian Bousquet also miss out through injury.

Elliott Whitehead was handed a one-game ban after the Challenge Cup semi-finals as well meaning it comes down to a case of who is available, more so than selecting their stars.

Arthur Romano returns to the squad but could be used off the bench whilst Jordan Dezaria could be used in the same way after recently being recalled from his loan from Castleford Tigers.

Fouad Yaha looks likely to replace Makinson on the wing, however, Romano or Laguerre could move out from centre to fill that role.

Predicted Catalans Dragons XIII: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet; Fouad Yaha, Matthieu Laguerre, Reimis Smith, Nick Cotric; Luke Keary, Theo Fages; Tevita Pangai Jr, Alrix Da Costa, Romain Navarrete; Bayley Sironen, Tariq Sims, Oliver Partington

Interchanges: Arthur Romano, Chris Satae, Paul Seguier, Jordan Dezaria

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