The 12 St Helens players unavailable for selection this weekend after latest disciplinary blow

St Helens may not have the most injuries in Super League at present, but a case could be argued that they have been dealt the worst hand.

The likes of Huddersfield Giants have more bodies unavailable, but the star quality the Red Vee currently have sat on the sidelines is astounding, and that number has increased following the conclusion of the club’s Challenge Cup win over Castleford Tigers.

Saints secured a 32-8 win over the Yorkshire side to progress through to the quarter finals, where they will host Catalans Dragons, but this week they are preparing to face Super League’s other French side as they travel to Toulouse Olympique.

Having had four wins on the spin, it’s hard to believe that St Helens have so much talent in the medical room, but with both injuries and suspensions starting to rack up, the club are certainly doing it extremely tough, which is a testament to Paul Rowley’s side in how they keep finding ways to win.

At the start of the season, St Helens awarded first team squad numbers to 30 of their players, but for their away trip this weekend they are without 12 of those bodies, including winger Kyle Feldt who picked up a suspension for a high tackle in the Castleford win.

Feldt caught centre Krystian Mapapalangi both high and late, forcing him off for a HIA, which he failed. That led to a Grade D charge and 18 penalty points, taking him over the threshold for a three match ban.

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Feldt is one of six players to have a starting 13 squad number that will definitely be missing this week.

Jack Welsby dislocated his shoulder in R1 and after surgery was set for three-four months on the sidelines. Half-back Jonny Lomax is around three weeks into a two-month lay-off for a dislocated wrist.

Prop duo Alex Walmsley (foot) and Matty Lees (knee) had initial injury timelines of six and 12 weeks respectively, and will be out for at least another month or so yet, whilst Daryl Clark  and Curtis Sironen were injured in the Castleford game.

Clark failed a HIA meaning he automatically sits out this game, whilst Sironen suffered a calf knock, and is set to miss the next four t0 eight weeks depending on severity.

Also absent is back rower Jacob Host, who broke his leg in victory over Bradford Bulls, and Joe Shorrocks, who is serving the second of a two-match suspension picked up in the same game.

Hooker Jake Burns also failed a HIA last weekend, meaning that Saints currently have no natural nines to feature against Toulouse, and it is likely that Jake Wingfield takes that spot, as he did last week when both Clark and Burns were off the field.

Nene MacDonald is not expected to feature after an ongoing knee issue saw him miss out last weekend, and Leon Cowen won’t be available with the young forward on a season-long loan at Halifax Panthers.