In many ways St Helens’ title win in 2022 was the best of their recent four in a row.
That’s because they lifted the Super League title despite the absence of some key players.
The Saints lost the competition’s best prop and member of the 2022 Dream Team Alex Walmsley.
The England international’s absence from the play-offs was confirmed before the Saints kicked a ball in the semi-finals but it did not matter as they went on to claim the title with fellow prop Matty Lees playing a key role even scoring in the Grand Final against Leeds Rhinos.
Meanwhile, the Saints lost star halfback Lewis Dodd early in the season.
Dodd had shone at the start of the season having won the 2021 Grand Final against Catalans Dragons and being awarded the number seven shirt.
He was described by former St Helens boss Kristian Woolf as the “best halfback in the competition” but the Saints still kept plugging away with Jack Welsby joining Jonny Lomax in the halves and Will Hopoate moving to fullback and Konrad Hurrell to centre.
This makes it a concern for the 2023 season for the rest of Super League as Dodd and Walmsley return for the new season.
Both men have returned to training this week and should very well be ready for the start of the new season and the World Club Challenge against Penrith.
