Royce Simmons has named his 19 man squad for this Friday's clash with Catalans. He had the luxury of picking from an almost fully fit squad with only Shaun Magennis missing through injury. 2 players returned from injury this week; Mark Flanagan and Lee Gaskell. They were joined in the squad by Paul Clough who returns fresh from a rest last week. This means that Ade Gardner and Josh Perry have been omitted from the 19 man squad, however neither are injured. 1. Paul Wellens, 3. Michael Shenton, 4. Sia Soliola, 5. Francis Meli, 6. Lance Hohaia, 7. Jonny Lomax, 9. James Roby, 10. Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook, 11. Tony Puletua, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Chris Flannery, 14. Anthony Laffranchi, 15. Mark Flanagan, 16. Paul Clough, 17. Gary Wheeler, 19. Andrew Dixon, 20. Lee Gaskell, 21. Tommy Makinson, 22. Jamie Foster www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/1729 1. Paul Wellens 21. Tommy Makinson 3. Michael Shenton 5. Francis Meli 22. Jamie Foster 6. Lance Hohaia 7. Jonny Lomax 11. Tony Puletua 9. James Roby 14. Anthony Laffranchi 4. Sia Soliola 12. Jon Wilkin 15. Mark Flanagan 10. LMS 16. Paul Clough 19. Andrew Dixon 17. Gary Wheeler / 20. Lee Gaskell 13. Chris Flannery and 17. Gary Wheeler/ 20. Lee Gaskell to miss out. That's how I think Royce will go but I really hope it isn't.

Royce Simmons has named his 19 man squad for this Friday's clash with Catalans. He had the luxury of picking from an almost fully fit squad with only Shaun Magennis missing through injury. 2 players returned from injury this week; Mark Flanagan and Lee Gaskell. They were joined in the squad by Paul Clough who returns fresh from a rest last week. This means that Ade Gardner and Josh Perry have been omitted from the 19 man squad, however neither are injured. 1. Paul Wellens, 3. Michael Shenton, 4. Sia Soliola, 5. Francis Meli, 6. Lance Hohaia, 7. Jonny Lomax, 9. James Roby, 10. Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook, 11. Tony Puletua, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Chris Flannery, 14. Anthony Laffranchi, 15. Mark Flanagan, 16. Paul Clough, 17. Gary Wheeler, 19. Andrew Dixon, 20. Lee Gaskell, 21. Tommy Makinson, 22. Jamie Foster www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/1729 1. Paul Wellens 21. Tommy Makinson 3. Michael Shenton 5. Francis Meli 22. Jamie Foster 6. Lance Hohaia 7. Jonny Lomax 11. Tony Puletua 9. James Roby 14. Anthony Laffranchi 4. Sia Soliola 12. Jon Wilkin 15. Mark Flanagan 10. LMS 16. Paul Clough 19. Andrew Dixon 17. Gary Wheeler / 20. Lee Gaskell 13. Chris Flannery and 17. Gary Wheeler/ 20. Lee Gaskell to miss out. That's how I think Royce will go but I really hope it isn't.

Gardener and Perry out.Won't miss the latter much.Makinson to play on the wing with Wellens retained at FB?

Catalans Squad:

1. Clint Greenshields, 2. Damien Blanche, 3. Leon Pryce, 4. Setaimata Sa, 6. Thomas Bosc, 7. Scott Dureau, 8. David Ferriol, 9. Ian Henderson, 10. Remi Casty, 11. Steve Menzies, 13. Gregory Mounis, 14. Sebastien Raguin, 15. Jean-Phillipe Baile, 18. Daryl Millard, 22. Jamel Fakir, 23. Lopini Paea, 24. Jason Baitieri, 25. Vincent Duport, 26. Ben Fisher.

Which I would guess is likely to be:

1. Clint Greenshields
2. Damien Blanch
4. Setimata Sa
18. Daryl Millard
6. Thomas Bosc

3. Leon Pryce
7. Scott Dureau

8. David Ferriol
9. Ian Henderson
10. Remi Casty
11. Steve Menzies
22. Jamel Fakir
13. Gergory Mounis

15. Jean Phillipe-Baile
14. Sebastian Raguin
23. Lopinin Paea
26. Ben Fisher

Pretty sure on the backs but completely guessed the forwards and the subs.

We'll get smashed if we play like we have so far this season.

Dropping a prop against Catalans doesn't seem the best of ideas to me.

Simmons' methods do seem to be incredibly stubborn in that he won't change tactics to suit opposition. We clearly need a heavy bench to contend with the Catalans pack, yet he rests our heaviest player just because its his turn.

Ah right okay fair enough, as I said it was a bit of a guess.

Super Leon will tear us apart

he knows he is going home at the end of the season ,so what the heck.

Strange choice to drop one of our biggest players against a big pack and a very aggressive pack.

Maybe he's protecting perry because their forward would murder him as he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag at the moment.

I'd go: Hohaia, Makinson, Shenton, Wheeler, Foster, Gaskell, Lomax, LMS, Roby, Puletua, Flanagan, Soliola, Wilkin: Wellens, Clough, Laffranchi, Dixon

Royce will probably go: Wellens, Makinson, Shenton, Meli, Foster, Hohaia, Lomax, LMS, Roby, Puletua, Wilkin, Soliola, Flannery: Wheeler, Clough, Laffranchi, Flannery.

I think it's pretty clear that just like anderson he is rotating his props. He has 5 and is only going to play 4 in a match. Perry has not really provided immense go forward and Clough was full of running against Salford.

As for this having to raise our game for Cats. Well Cats may look strong on paper, but they where lucky to win at the weekend against Cas, so lets not talk them up too much. They improved at the back end of last year, but are no where near that form yet, same as ourselves really.

Given the line up, I'd go

6. Lance Hohaia,
21. Tommy Makinson,
3. Michael Shenton,
5. Francis Meli,
22. Jamie Foster
20. Lee Gaskell,
7. Jonny Lomax,

11. Tony Puletua,
9. James Roby,
10. Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook,
12. Jon Wilkin,
4. Sia Soliola,
15. Mark Flanagan,

16. Paul Clough,
17. Gary Wheeler,
19. Andrew Dixon,
14. Anthony Laffranchi,


1. Paul Wellens, 13. Chris Flannery,


It may seam unlikely but if Wellens was not at the pace of the game last week, he may need some more time to get his fitness up after injury. Did not see Flannery last week, but of the back row available he would seam most likely to be 18th or 19th man, unless Dixon had a mare against Hull KR that no one has mentioned.

Sia is becoming a first choice on the team sheet now, he's been outstanding and bettered all the props so far.

This is how I would line the team up to face Catalan Dragons

FB: Lance Hohaia
RW: Tommy Makinson
RC: Gary Wheeler
LC: Michael Shenton
LW: Jamie Foster

SO: Lee Gaskell
SH: Jonny Lomax

PF: Tony Puletua
HK: James Roby
PF: Anthony Laffranchi
SR: Jon Wilkin
SR: Andrew Dixon
LF: Mark Flanagan

INT: Sia Soliola
INT: Paul Clough
INT: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
INT: Paul Wellens