For me I would just have Wello replacing Wilkin in a loose forward role with Wheeler (if not injured in training) at scrum half and Turner operating at stand off.

That leaves the problem at centre with Jones/Dawson/Soliola, I,ve not been to impressed with Jones, and Dawson struggles with defensive positioning, Soliola,s defence has improved with less missed tackles so I would be tempted to put Soliola there at the moment.

McDonnell
Makinson
Soliola
Percival
Swift
Turner
Wheeler

Wellens @ 13 working with the halves.

I think that's to much disruption when we can just put McDonnell in at fullback who is a great attacking player and move wello to 6. That way we only moving wello rather than moving wello, Turner and Sia.

I also think Sia has started to hit form again in the Backrow and his aggressive style would be missed at centre. His defence at centre is also a little dodgy with him flying out the line.

I'd go -

1) McDonnell
2) tommy
3)Turner
4) Percy
5) Swift
6) Wheeler
7) wello

We have a cracking half back you could have until the end of the season, you can have him and we'll write in a no callback clause, to get that though you have to sign our no give back clause.
Fantastic pair of hands(well they're manicured), sucks in defenders before passing it just before impact.

Roy Asotasi, you can have him without paying anything too, as a favour.



Seriously, sorry to hear about Walsh, hopefully it's something our good doctors and surgeons can sort out.

Saints fear it's a compound and a dislocation. They are pretty sure it's both. They don't know on ligament damage as it's so swelled up. He's had a op yesterday but if it is a compound and a dislocation then that's as bad as it gets.

Jeez, what's your problem? He's gone for the season. We're in this season now and he's not a part of it anymore. Hence the past tense!

Sheesh!

He had a full ankle reconstruction according to his wife. I'd say that short of an amputation, that's as bad as it gets! It'll be a long road to recovery, hopefully with no infections. We'll be lucky to see him back for the new season.

Best of luck to Walsh, I'm sure with the medical staff he will be under he will have the best return, looking forward to seeing him in the red V next season. Best of luck for the rest of the season. Except Friday...

That could be a career ending injury and could be between 6 to 12 months. The injury curse goes on whoever broke the mirror in the changing room in 2008 has given us 7 years of bad luck, they should re name the club from St Helens RL to St Helens RU (Rehabilitation Unit)

I was told it was a compound and dislocation. Even if it's a ankle recon it's very very bad. Which ever it is, it will be a long way back and I just pray he plays again wheather it's for saints or a NRL club, the Main thing is he plays rugby again.

I would agree with that short term, but we are fairly disrupted and busted anyway so I think Brown might look at what he can do to maintain a threat with the loss of Wilkin, Walsh and Lance for the rest of the season.

Rather than focussing on what we haven't got, and trying to compensate for it, I'd rather we now worked to our strengths and everything else can just slot in however. Our strength is having as big a pack as possible and we should work off that:

Amor Roby Walmsley
Soliola Manu
Thompson

Masoe Laffranchi LMS Flanaghan

And leaves us a backline of:

McDonnell
Makinson Turner Percival Swift
Wellens Wheeler

Need a surprisingly good kicking game like we had vs Leeds at LP though

I totally agree with you on the starting pack. That gives us grunt upfront and a great platform. I would really like to see Turner at Stand Off because he played well there last Friday when he was moved there. I think Wellens at Scrum Half gives us that leadership and above all else he talks, he can direct. McDonnell fits in at Full Back which is another massive plus point for us because he can be a great attacking player and that's what we need at the moment. The more attacking threats we have the better. I can also see your side of the argument.

I would hope he would do so because that's how it's going to be. We then just have to cross everything that no other key players get injured before the absent key players come back!

You just couldn't write it. The ONE thing we all hoped wouldn't happen more than anything else has happened.... The main man has been crocked for the rest of the season. Then to make it worse, his partner is out, and the emergency backup is out! That's as bad as it gets. We really have gone through a horrible spell with injuries over the last few years.

Gutted for him and us! Hope he recovers and can play again, whether it's for us or not. If that was his last game in a Saints top, then I'm glad we got a glimmer of class, and something we haven't seen at halfback since Long was in his prime.

What chance do we have, when we've has injuries to Walsh, Lance and Wilkin that we could keep Wheeler fit for the rest if the season?

Deffo Plus One

The club twitter didn't make it sound very good when they simply announced they would be making a statement about Luke Walsh early next week. Not even a hint of positivity.

They are making a statement about his prognosis since they won't have known it when they tweeted that. We generally do find out about injuries early in the week, usually Tuesday, so I would imagine that's when we will be updated as by then they will have heard from the surgeon.

Wilkin is also not good news according to Brown's little reference in his post match interview. But it would appear Lance's prognosis has improved since last weekend when he was due to be out for 8 to 10 weeks as Brown has this weekend said he should be back before the end of the season.

We will need to upgrade our defence considerably in order to back up our inevitable lack of clue in attack, unless we unearth a previously unknown halfback among our ranks.

Charnock had another good game today for the academy according to the Warrington fans (as did Savelio).

For the second week in a row played at hooker though.

Both should be in the first team now. This season is a write and it's always been. We're not good enough to win anything, even with the first 17 fit, so why not give these kids a go?

Hang on saddened the other teams are not exactly great either

We're top of the league with 5 games to go and the season is a write off. Jesus H Christ.

What does the H stand for ?

Not a clue, just a common expression.

I know but just wondered when I seem it in writing.


Could it be Holy ?