Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Wed Feb 16, 2022 3:45 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

That wouldn't be too hard, not a bad defender, but offers nothing going forward.

I just don't think he is good enough for SL and would rather play a young kid on the bench.

when Hodgson puts young kids on the bench they get little or no game time

Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Wed Feb 16, 2022 3:49 pm  

HFCHU8 wrote:

Based on the assumption Shaul is fit, my thoughts would be:

Shaul, Swift, Wynne, Carlos, Mcintosh, Reynolds, Gale, Sao, Houghton, Fash, Griffin, Lane, Johnstone

Bench: Satae, Brown, Lovodua, Scott

Would personally go for Griffin at second row over Scott purely due to size. Saints are huge, feel like griffin would go better against a bigger pack. Wouldn’t snub my nose at lovodua starting at LF after his performance on Sunday.

I agree having a second row of Lane,Scott and Johnstone at 13 is a bit frightening.
There are bigger forwards playing in the Womens league

Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Wed Feb 16, 2022 3:55 pm  

hull2524 wrote:

Good call. My only doubts would be Griffin playing in the pack on sticky ground after serious leg injury? Like to see him at centre to ease his self in.

It was the same for Mcintosh and Reynolds on an even worse pitch at Wakefield.
Dont think we have an option but to use the bigger player in the middle.
As i said the thought of Lane,Scott and Johnstone together as the starting second row is frightening from a size point of view

Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:30 pm  

HFCHU8 wrote:

Based on the assumption Shaul is fit, my thoughts would be:

Shaul, Swift, Wynne, Carlos, Mcintosh, Reynolds, Gale, Sao, Houghton, Fash, Griffin, Lane, Johnstone

Bench: Satae, Brown, Lovodua, Scott

Would personally go for Griffin at second row over Scott purely due to size. Saints are huge, feel like griffin would go better against a bigger pack. Wouldn’t snub my nose at lovodua starting at LF after his performance on Sunday.

Satae needs to start for me and match Walmsley minute for minute, can’t let them run riot down the middle from the off

Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:40 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote: Cheers - looks like both will be fine, so same again for you? https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/19 ... l-fc-trip/ Shows what I know! Same again it is I would suspect though we may use Sironen slightly more this week, he only got 20 minutes last week having missed most of preseason trapped in Italy self isolating …

Mrs Barista wrote: Cheers - looks like both will be fine, so same again for you? https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/19 ... l-fc-trip/ Shows what I know! Same again it is I would suspect though we may use Sironen slightly more this week, he only got 20 minutes last week having missed most of preseason trapped in Italy self isolating …

Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:26 pm  

HFCHU8 wrote:

Based on the assumption Shaul is fit, my thoughts would be:

Shaul, Swift, Wynne, Carlos, Mcintosh, Reynolds, Gale, Sao, Houghton, Fash, Griffin, Lane, Johnstone

Bench: Satae, Brown, Lovodua, Scott

Would personally go for Griffin at second row over Scott purely due to size. Saints are huge, feel like griffin would go better against a bigger pack. Wouldn’t snub my nose at lovodua starting at LF after his performance on Sunday.

No Carlos

[Chris71]

Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:44 pm  

Shaul in, Carlos still out. and still no Bowden.

Reading HDM it doesn't sound too promising that Shaul will make it as it says hopefully he'll be fit enough? I know its only HDM but not worth risking a player if he ain't fit.

21 man squad:

Adam Swift, Josh Griffin, Darnell McIntosh, Josh Reynolds, Luke Gale, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Jordan Lane, Joe Lovodua, Brad Fash, Ben McNamara, Jack Brown, Jordan Johnstone, Connor Wynne, Cameron Scott, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Marcus Walker, Aidan Burrell, Jamie Shaul, Charlie Severs

If Shaul is fit and plays then I'd go

Shaul
Swift
Wynn
Scott
McIntosh
Reynolds
Gale
Sao
Houghton
Satae
Lane
Griffin
Lovodua

Fash
Brown
Johnstone (simply as he can spell cover both 9 or 13)
Mitch or Walker (possibly even Severs but not sure he's ready for a St's test)

Think BH will likely start with Johnstone at 13 though.

Think we need to start both Sao & Satae or we risk being overrun from the off against an almost full strength St's.
I'd also prefer to see Lovodua start at 13 as he showed and offered a real threat in attack abd was solid defensively.. Although not ideal I think Griff needs to go in to the 2nd which is very light weight without Mau & Savelio. A lot depends on if Shaul actually makes it in to the 17.

Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:49 pm  

Stick a few kids out there. It will be a great experience for them to play against the best team in the country in such an emotional match for us on national television.

Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:56 pm  

I think Sao will be pitched against Walmsley; for me he was tremendous at Wakefield and looked to hunt their forwards with real venom and aggression, but it will take a Herculean effort from the rest of the squad to hold Saints to a respectable score, such is their quality across the park. J J really had a dig at Wakefield and he surprised me but this is a huge leap in terms of power and quality. Against Catalans, they were relentless from minute one to minute eighty and I expect they'll be the same against us. As long as they all leave the pitch, with nothing left to give, I'll take that, especially in the emotionally charged atmosphere given Johnny Whiteley's sad passing.

Re: St Helens Pre Match Chat : Thu Feb 17, 2022 1:03 pm  

Damage limitation, big effort and no injuries. Wouldn't risk anyone with a knock, rather play young kids.