He and Jones worked well together against London, instrumental in our final try. While it would be great to have Percival in his proper position, I think he's doing ok on the wing at present. Better him than shunting Makinson out of fullback just when (a) he was developing his game, and (b) the team were getting used to his style of play.

Both teams playing crap at the moment and Saints should win.

Sadly I suspect he'll find a space for wello to take up.

We've got to keep Steamboat Wello out of that full back position, if we don't what little threat we have will be reduced to nothing and we'll be starting sets 10-20 metres further back.

No excuses given that squad. No injuries to blame there.

I just worry where he's going to slow play down and generally get in the way next ....

Other than we have salfords turd 3rd choice hooker and no halfbacks to speak of.. and of course Wello will be playing (somewhere)

Some fine excuses if you ask me

I half agree with you. Whilst I would like to think that our squad for Friday will be enough to beat Widnes (no disrespect), let's not forget there are still 8 players unavailable.

Lomax, Roby, Wheeler, Flanagan, Walker, Meli, Wilkin, Swift.

There's an argument that if any of those 8 were fit then they'd be in the 17 on Friday.

Wheeler, Flanagan, Walker and Swift wouldn't.

If any of those 4 were fit and available for this weekend they would play.

Wheeler or Ashe
Swift on Wing and Percival back to centre
Flanagan or Walker for Thompson

Any of them individually as it is now I agree. But if everyone was fit, and with Wello now clogging up a forward spot, it's unlikely any of them would feature anywhere. There are more than enough established first teamers there for us to decimate Widnes.

Wellens
Makinson
Turner
Percival
Gardner
Hohaia
Ashe
Perry
Howarth
Puletua
Manu
Jones
Laffranchi

Bench

Soliola
McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Clough
Walmsley

It still shocks me when anyone names a 17 with Wellens at fullback. Completely baffles me.

Corrected

Haha I almost put that but with the current injury situation I think he just about merits a bench spot at least!

Perry and Manu are set to return.

Howarth poor form hasn't gone unnoticed and possibly be out of the 17 this week.

We also have one of our best players very doubftul

Sia?

This is the team:

21. Tommy Makinson
2. Ade Gardner
19. Josh Jones
3. Jordan Turner
30. Mark Percival

1. Paul Wellens
23. Nathan Ashe

8. Josh Perry
6. Lance Hohaia
11. Tony Puletua
14. Anthony Laffranchi
24. Joe Greenwood
33. Luke Thompson

10. LMS
13. Willie Manu
16. Paul Clough
25. Alex Walmsley

Do you know whats up with Sia?

Probably the player of the season so far and he's out.

We are doomed.

That is correct.

Possibility that Howarth might come in for clough. Brown is undecided apparently

Sia went off vs London and came back on with noticeable strapping around one of his knees. Didn't think much of it...

Glad to see Howarth's been dropped and Thompson's stayed in. Any news on Sia?

Sia missing is a big loss, but that is a very big pack and bench and while Hohaia may not have the slickest of distribution, he is a threat from dummy half, which means the opposition defence will consider him before they move up on the forward ball carrier.
Wello at stand off is unfortunate. I'd be more tempted to play turner there, percival in the centre and find some sort of winger to plug the gap at the end.

So Brown has swapped around the centre/wing partnerships? Jones and Percy worked well last week. Why change them? Unnecessary messing around, again.