SAINTS have announced their squad for Friday's Round 24 Super League match with London Broncos.

Gareth O'Brien has been stepped down by the coaching staff after two high shots in recent weeks with Joe Greenwood being recalled.

Nathan Brown will choose from:

1. Paul Wellens, 3. Jordan Turner, 5. Francis Meli, 6. Lance Hohaia, 7. Jonny Lomax, 10. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 11. Tony Puletua, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Willie Manu, 14. Anthony Laffranchi, 16. Paul Clough, 19. Josh Jones, 21. Tommy Makinson, 24. Joe Greenwood, 25. Alex Walmsley, 26. Adam Swift, 27. Anthony Walker, 36. Stuart Howarth, 38. Greg Richards.

Tony Rea will choose his Broncos side from:

2. Liam Colbon, 4. David Howell, 8. Antonio Kaufusi, 10. Mark Bryant, 11. Shane Rodney, 16. Chris Melling, 18. Olsi Krasniqi, 19. Daniel Sarginson, 20. Matt Cook, 23. Tommy Lee, 24. Mike McMeeken, 25. Alex Hurst, 26. Ben Fisher, 27. Erjon Dollapi, 29. James Woodburn-Hall, 30. Mike Bishay, 32. Joel Wicks, 33. Jamie Soward, 38. Iliess Macani.

The game kicks off at 8pm and the referee is Thierry Alibert.

Wilkin and Wellens at 7 I would guess!

Maybe try Swift at 6, given that he has history there.

Hooray!!

I understand Brown wanting to change as little as possible, but why not give Charnock another run?
He was good enough to play in the snow against Salford (the worst conditions I've seen a game played in) and looked physically ok. He also kicks goals. Above all, he's a halfback.

I know we're coming into a it of form, but starting Wellens at #6 is just a tad depressing. I know he featured for the majority of the Cats game, but come on... .... ...

I don't think you'll see that, but you may see Swift or Mak at full back with Lomax to #6?
Most would be reluctant to move lomax though.

Charnock is injured at the moment.

It is a tad depressing but not sure what other options we have. It's probably going to be Wello at 6 and Wilkin at 7.

I expect to see:

Lomax
Makinson
Turner
Meli
Swift
Wellens
Wilkin
Puletua
Howarth
Laffranchi
Jones
Manu
LMS

Walmsley
Walker
Greenwood
Richards/Clough

options are -
Wellens to 6
Turner to 6, with Jones or Percival moving to centre. I don't like Turner at 6.
Danny Yates. I think he's judged to be not ready yet.
Lomax to #6 and one of Swift, Makinson or Wellens to full back. Seems a shame to move Johnny, though.

Unless Gary Wheeler comes from nowhere, I think it'll be Wello.

Would rather see Lance at 6 than Wellens, but very much doubt that will happen

Haha! I'd forgotten all about that guy.
Nah, his exclusion in this game will go toward further ostracising him and forcing his move elsewhere.

I'd go:

Makinson
Swift
Turner
Jones
Meli
Lomax
Wilkin
Puletua
Howarth
Walker
Laffranchi
Manu
LMS

Wellens
Walmsley
Greenwood
Richards

But I'm guessing it'll be Wello and Wilkin in the halves.

Not this again.....

Macani
Colbon
Sarginson
Howell
Hurst

Soward
Bishay

Bryant
Lee
Dollapi
Rodney
McMeeken
Cook

Kaufusi
Krasniqi
Melling
Woodburn-Hall

Potential London team, taken from their board. Haven't heard of half of them, and thought Howell'd left years ago.

www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/10597891._/? Hohiah it is then!!!!!!!!!!!!!

www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/10597891._/? Hohiah it is then!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great! We should still be looking to put 50+ easily on London though.

A surprise turn by Brown to pick the obvious choice.

I would not have predicted that. Moving zero players when he could have moved at least 2 or 3.

Bloody hell get over yourself.

Haha, who put 10p in you? Bit of an OTT reaction old chap.

You must lead a sheltered life.

I'd rather have Hohaia at 6 than Wellens. We might get a decent effort from him seeing as he is trying to break into the team again

You should do on paper, but not by 50, and especially as the ref is Thierry 'seven tackles' Alibert

He hates London and will penalise us out of the game within the first 15 minutes.

I am glad to hear that O'Brien is being rested. That IMO is exactly the right thing to do given the number of head injuries he has suffered of late.

The most sensible thing to do would be either to play Hohaia at fullback and move Lomax to stand off or play Hohaia at stand off, keeping Lomax at fullback. No need to move anyone else and at this time of year we need as settled a side as possible to give us the best chance of winning every match, something we need to do.

I wouldn't underestimate London, not with Soward in the team as he seems to inspire them and (Leigh aside) gives them some shape. Great shame they have been hit by more injuries though and it's sad that their young winger whose name escapes me just now is still absent as I do love watching him play, even though he causes trouble!

That's Kieran Dixon. The club says he's broken a finger and will be out for 6 weeks (that was 4 weeks ago) but saw him at the Leeds game last week, he hasn't lost his sense of humour. A good finisher but his defence (like most of the Broncos) is a little shaky. But you're right, Soward should be the turning point if London have any chance of winning.

Thank you, yes. Duh to me!! I think he's great. Perhaps a better coach (and a better team?) would bring on his defence although being such a slight bloke he may always need a bit of assistance (assuming he doesn't fill out as he grows older of course).


I remember reading that he was out for six weeks but I hadn't realised it was with a broken finger. I think the Broncos have missed his creativity. He's like an extra halfback on the wing. I would have enjoyed watching him and Soward on the same pitch!

I'm not sure Dixon isnt hindered by the players around him. Pretty typical british outside back though, good in attack with suspect defence

Oddly I agree with all of that. You just know Brown will go with Wellens in the halves though