Before the huge Good Friday derbies three of the four teams involved have been hit with a hamstring curse.
Only Hull KR didn’t lose a play to a hamstring injury with Tex Hoy of Hull FC going down, Jai Field of Wigan Warriors being the first and Alex Walmsley of St Helens also going down.
Speaking on Saints TV, Paul Wellens gave an update on Walmsley:
“It’s disappointing to lose a player of Alex’s calibre, him picking up an injury is never ideal and he’s going to be out for around four weeks.
“We’ll learnt to cope without Al, we did a good job at the back end of last year in his absence and we’re going to have to do the same again.
“We never like players getting injured but at the same time it gives other players an opportunity, that’s the positive side of it that someone gets to wear the shirt and give as much effort and energy as Alex would have done.”
George Delaney played his role replacing Walmsley against Wakefield last week.
Speaking on the youngster, Wellens said: “Delighted for George, he puts himself in real contention this week off the back of that strong performance.
“I commend the lad because he missed out on a trip to Australia but he didn’t sulk. He kept his head down, worked hard, been training with Swinton and playing there on a weekend and being up there as one of their best performers week in week out.
“When you have that attitude and application then sure enough good things start to come your way and that’s what happened with George last week.”
