St Helens boosted by return of suspended star

St Helens host Wakefield Trinity on Friday night in a fixture whereby the four time consecutive Champions are hosting the only remaining winless side in Super League.

Many will see the game as a walkover for Saints but Paul Wellens was keen to avoid that talk at his press conference when he insisted his side weren’t looking past Trinity.

The suggestion that Saints were looking beyond this fixture came down a lot to the fact St Helens face Wigan in the Good Friday Derby next week, however Wellens assured fans that wasn’t the case.

“A lot of people in the game will look and see that there’s a team that’s not won a game and coming up against us and many people probably see it as a foregone conclusion but we just don’t approach it in that manner at all.

“We have to approach this with a real strong mindset.”

He has made some changes to his squad for the fixture though, albeit some are enforced.

Ignatius Paasi was “grumbling with his knee” per Wellens who also hinted that young talent George Delaney could be called up the 21-man squad having impressed on dual registration with Swinton.

“In terms of our middle units we’re a bit depleted there so we have a young player who has been fantastic on dual reg in George Delaney who comes into the squad this week.

“He’s a real chance of playing if Ignatius isn’t right.

“George has been fantastic throughout the pre-season in the way he’s gone about his work, obviously when you have a dual reg situation it’s sometimes a bit different when you go and represent a different club.”

Wellens has now named his squad and he’s made two changes from last week’s win with Morgan Knowles returning from suspension and then McKenzie Buckley, a young forward, being named in the squad for the first time.

That sees Sione Mata’utia drop out following HIA protocols after he left the field early against Huddersfield.

Jonny Lomax could be set to make his 300th appearance for St Helens if he features.

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Paul Wellens has named his 21-man squad for this Friday's @SuperLeague clash against @WTrinityRL

Full story 👇#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 29, 2023