Given everything that the club have had to deal with, it can’t be questioned how well Paul Rowley has done in his first few months in charge of St Helens.
With over half of his first 17 out for the majority of the year so far, and players constantly being added to the injury list, Rowley’s side sit second in the league, level on points with Leeds Rhinos in first.
Only points difference separates the two at this stage, and after seven wins from their opening nine matches, the former Salford boss has shown he can get his side to win in plenty of different ways, something top teams must do if they want to be successful.
Rowley has by no means had it easy, but looking at the ladder on it’s own you’d wouldn’t know the strife the Red Vee have been through this season.
Now, as the injury hump continues to decrease and key players embark on their return, the 51-year-old’s next decision could well be his biggest yet.
In what is undoubtedly an incredible boost for the squad, Jack Welsby has been named in the 21-man squad for the first time since round one, where he dislocated his shoulder at Warrington Wolves.
The England international full-back’s season never really got going, but after recovering from that issue he will be hoping to kick-start his season, in what is a key campaign on an individual level too, due to the World Cup taking place in Autumn.
Despite there being a new coach at the helm, there is almost a sense of deja vu occuring, with the Red Vee being in this exact position last year – and ultimately it was a position that former boss Paul Wellens got wrong.
Welsby’s injury has meant that Tristan Sailor has slotted in at full-back, and like last season he has performed sensationally, racking up 10 try contributions, averaging over 170 metres per game and being a focal point in Saints’ attack.
That form has largely helped Saints arrive at where they are in the league table, but with Welsby back in the mix, it leaves Rowley with a selection decision, and it is imperative he gets right.
How do St Helens fit Jack Welsby and Tristan Sailor in the same team?
During the 25-year-old’s absence last year, Sailor slotted in at the number one role, and in that time won seven of their eight matches. Once Welsby returned, they would end up winning just four of their final eight matches, with their drop in attacking clinicality being heavily questioned as a result.
Rowley not only has to find a way to fit Sailor and Welsby fit into the same team, but he also needs to find a situation that benefits both their strengths, something that Wellens couldn’t quite manage last term.
If the new boss has similar results to that of his predecessor, Saints’ form could take a hit, something that is vital doesn’t happen given they have a Challenge Cup semi-final, and potential Final, to contend with over the next month.
If the pair can’t combine well enough, then Rowley will be left in the same position Wellens was 12 months ago, and that ended with the Red Vee missing out on silverware for a third successive season.
However, the one thing, or one person, that Rowley has to his advantage that Wellens didn’t, is Jackson Hastings.
The former Man of Steel is another player who has been sensational for Saints this year, and his role will also play a part. If those two, for whatever reason, can’t seem to find their form, he will need to take it upon himself to lead the attack, something he has shown he can do on a number of occasions throughout his career.
To sum up, Welsby is of course a welcome addition to the squad, but Rowley can’t allow too many cooks to spoils the broth, and his ability to get both players performing at their best week in, week out, will be a small, but arguably the most crucial piece of management in his Saints career to date.
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