Well in my game of "Top Trumps" with Phuzzy about injuries I think we have just gone ahead in the excuses.... Saints have a members open day training session today and Clark is in a boot. 4-5 weeks out apparently

Now that's 1/8 first choice spine players playing from both sides!

Big miss for you Stu but Burns has looked good on his short appearances so far. I suppose the question is how he'll go if he's doing the full 80.

In top trumps I'll raise you Doris the tea lady who burned her finger on the kettle at lunchtime today. Advantage Saints

Both clubs are constantly telling us about how good their youth systems are, let's just get on with it and see what foundations there are to such claims. It's Wigan v Saints, both clubs have had success with a greater number of injuries. Roll on Saturday, we might actually get more attacking rugby out of both teams

Percival gone now too for 4-6 weeks

So that's

Welsby
Lomax
Dodd
Clark
Knowles (complete first choice spine)

Percival
Hurrell
Wingfield

Apparently Matautia and Delaney trained today but who knows if they will play

There is no way on Gods earth we are favourites on Saturday and that will be reflected with the handicaps when the bookies make them

I'm in Dusseldorf for the weekend so getting my excuses in early

Crazy that

Saints +4 with the bookies.

Tbh with how wigan have playing of late I'll bloody take a 4 point win lol

And I will take any win.

Wellens goes round again in 2025. https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/24 ... off-field/

Wellens goes round again in 2025. https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/24 ... off-field/

Why did Wellens say his halves only had one training session together when they 9 day turn around

Mbye it seems was ill all week. now you can only assume they trained with at least one of their kids there (Roberts ?) all week then decided to bin him when Mbye put his hand up to play last minute.
Starting with the spine that trained most of the week and having Mbye on the bench would've seemed the way to go but what do I know.
Just happy we've come through what turned into a training session unscathed though I've no doubt Ellis will pick up a ban for being stood in the wrong place.

I still stick by Saints being a chance of winning the GF ‘if’ they can get most of their players fit for the last few weeks. That is looking a big if though, with them losing players most weeks, offsetting the retuning players.

On the plus side in all of this for them is the likes of Stephens and especially young Robertson! His footwork is freakish. He doesn’t look lightning quick but is quick enough. He’s going to be a cracking player.

If I was a Saints fan what would worry me most about yesterday is the performance of the pack, it is a long time since I have seen them play so poorly.

I can understand the issues with Saint's backline , but I thought their forwards would stand up better than they did. Absolutely no intensity. Granted Sironen was injured early but still - they even managed to make Bryne look impressive, and considering his recent form this year that's no mean feat - and Dupree seemed to have shaken off some dodgy form of the past few weeks.

Hopefully leaving Bryne on the sidelines for a while has ignited some fire in him.

Nsemba was a beast in defence when he lined anyone up - really aggressive shoulder in tackles, and not too shabby with his footwork either in attack.