St Helens could now face a second-row conundrum going into their derby clash with Wigan Warriors on Good Friday.
The traditional derby is a dress rehearsal for their meeting at Elland Road in the Challenge Cup semi-finals on May 7th but will also see the top two in the Super League collide for the first time in 2022.
However, Saints will have to beat the Warriors without the in form Curtis Sironen after he received a one-match ban from the disciplinary panel following the Champions’ win over Catalans Dragons in the Challenge Cup.
He was hit with a Grade A charge and faces a one-match ban meaning he’ll return for the Easter Monday clash with the high flying Huddersfield Giants. His absence coupled with Sione Mata’utia’s injury means that Kristian Woolf could have limited backrow options going into the derby with only Joe Batchelor and former academy captain Sam Royale as the only natural second-rows available and Royale is yet to start a game in 2022.
The last time Saints faced a similar situation, Woolf moved the league’s best 13 Morgan Knowles into the second-row against Toulouse. Curiously, that was the day St Helens lost for the first and only time so far this season.
The only other player cited this week was Kane Linnett as Hull KR defeated Castleford. He too was hit with a Grade A charge for dangerous contact but does not receive a ban.
