St Helens’ sole overseas signing for the 2024 season has found himself playing for the club’s reserves today rather than in the top-of-the-table clash against Catalans Dragons.
The Red Vee only made three signings ahead of the new campaign, such was the strength of their squad, with Daryl Clark and Matt Whitley both being poached from Super League rivals Warrington Wolves and Catalans Dragons.
Waqa Blake was the third and final signing with St Helens using their final quota space on the Fijian centre as a replacement for the retiring Will Hopoate.
St Helens confirmed their squad numbers back in November and purposefully left the number three shirt vacant as a nod to the fact they would be signing a centre and in January it was confirmed that Blake was the man.
Paul Wellens’ side confirmed Blake’s arrival in early January after his release from Parramatta Eels but so far it’s not quite clicked for Blake who has 165 NRL appearances and 62 tries to his name.
At the time the Fijian told the club website: “To come to a club like St.Helens where they’ve always been in the top four or top two, and then such a big thing winning four-in-a-row, I’m hoping I can fit in, and we can win another one. Just looking at all the players that they have there, all the strike, I’m keen to get to work.”
However, this weekend rather than lining up in a battle of the top two, he instead faces Wakefield Trinity Reserves for the Red Vee’s own reserve side after being named in Derek Hardman’s squad.
📋 Here’s how your Saints Reserves lineup this afternoon against @WTrinityRL!
Derek Hardman has a number of our younger First Team men featuring for our Reserves’ first run-out at the @twstadium in the 2024 season 😇
Updates on this thread 👇#COYS pic.twitter.com/SJHJk8GIzW
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 6, 2024
St Helens to face Catalans without star signing
Credit: Imago Images
Blake not being named in the squad to face Catalans was even more of a surprise given that fellow centre Mark Percival is unavailable for the game after failing a Head Injury Assessment against Wigan Warriors.
As such St Helens look to be rolling with Konrad Hurrell and Ben Davies as recognised centres but the likes of Sione Mata’utia, Matt Whitley and even Tommy Makinson are more than adept at the position.
The official team will be confirmed at around 6:30 pm ahead of the game with Catalans that is being aired on Sky Sports Main Event and BBC Three too, making it the first time the French side has played a Super League game on terrestrial TV.
Other potential squad problems for Paul Wellens would be the suspension of Matty Lees with the hard-hitting forward copping a two-game ban for his shot on Luke Thompson in the Good Friday derby.
Agnatius Paasi remains out as he rehabs following his injury against Leigh Leopards in the Challenge Cup last year whilst Catalans have problems of their own with Jayden Nikorima remaining out through injury.
The 21-Man Squads for each side can be seen below.
Catalans Dragons 21-Man Squad
1. Arthur MOURGUE
2. Tom DAVIES
3. Arthur ROMANO
4. Matthieu LAGUERRE
7. Théo FAGES
8. Mike McMEEKEN
9. Micky McILORUM
10. Julian BOUSQUET
11. Tariq SIMS
12. Paul SEGUIER
13. Benjamin GARCIA
14. Alrix DA COSTA
16. Romain NAVARRETE
17. César ROUGE
18. Ugo TISON
20. Chris SATAE
21. Matt IKUVALU
24. Tom JOHNSTONE
25. Loan CASTANO
27. Jordan ABDULL
28. Franck MARIA
St Helens 21-Man Squad
1. Jack Welsby
2. Tommy Makinson
5. Jon Bennsion
6. Jonny Lomax
7. Lewis Dodd
8. Alex Walmsley
9. Daryl Clark
11. Sione Mata’utia
12. Joe Batchelor
13. Morgan Knowles
14. Moses Mbye
15. James Bell
16. Curtis Sironen
18. Jake Wingfield
19. Matt Whitley
20. George Delaney
21. Ben Davies
23. Konrad Hurrell
24. Jake Burns
25. Tee Ritson
31. Noah Stephens
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