Your Houghton comment is total nonsense, up until recently his was a real threat running from a quick play of the ball.

Always set up some good trys in the 2016/17 season.

Without doubt we need much more youth coming through, and hopefully this boost in the academy and reserves with Shenny, the guy from Warry, hopefully will move us into a better place with our youngsters. If you include Wynne, and Walker, who have both shown up quite well, then possibly Litten and Severs, Burrel and Macca, slowly, we’re heading in the right direction at last.

Based on the assumption Shaul is fit, my thoughts would be:

Shaul, Swift, Wynne, Carlos, Mcintosh, Reynolds, Gale, Sao, Houghton, Fash, Griffin, Lane, Johnstone

Bench: Satae, Brown, Lovodua, Scott

Would personally go for Griffin at second row over Scott purely due to size. Saints are huge, feel like griffin would go better against a bigger pack. Wouldn’t snub my nose at lovodua starting at LF after his performance on Sunday.

Good call. My only doubts would be Griffin playing in the pack on sticky ground after serious leg injury? Like to see him at centre to ease his self in.

when Hodgson puts young kids on the bench they get little or no game time

I agree having a second row of Lane,Scott and Johnstone at 13 is a bit frightening.
There are bigger forwards playing in the Womens league

It was the same for Mcintosh and Reynolds on an even worse pitch at Wakefield.
Dont think we have an option but to use the bigger player in the middle.
As i said the thought of Lane,Scott and Johnstone together as the starting second row is frightening from a size point of view

Satae needs to start for me and match Walmsley minute for minute, can’t let them run riot down the middle from the off

Quote Mrs Barista="Mrs Barista"Cheers - looks like both will be fine, so same again for you? https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/19 ... l-fc-trip/'" Shows what I know! Same again it is I would suspect though we may use Sironen slightly more this week, he only got 20 minutes last week having missed most of preseason trapped in Italy self isolating …

Quote Mrs Barista="Mrs Barista"Cheers - looks like both will be fine, so same again for you? https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/19 ... l-fc-trip/'" Shows what I know! Same again it is I would suspect though we may use Sironen slightly more this week, he only got 20 minutes last week having missed most of preseason trapped in Italy self isolating …

No Carlos

Shaul in, Carlos still out. and still no Bowden.

Reading HDM it doesn't sound too promising that Shaul will make it as it says hopefully he'll be fit enough? I know its only HDM but not worth risking a player if he ain't fit.

21 man squad:

Adam Swift, Josh Griffin, Darnell McIntosh, Josh Reynolds, Luke Gale, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Jordan Lane, Joe Lovodua, Brad Fash, Ben McNamara, Jack Brown, Jordan Johnstone, Connor Wynne, Cameron Scott, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Marcus Walker, Aidan Burrell, Jamie Shaul, Charlie Severs

If Shaul is fit and plays then I'd go

Shaul
Swift
Wynn
Scott
McIntosh
Reynolds
Gale
Sao
Houghton
Satae
Lane
Griffin
Lovodua

Fash
Brown
Johnstone (simply as he can spell cover both 9 or 13)
Mitch or Walker (possibly even Severs but not sure he's ready for a St's test)

Think BH will likely start with Johnstone at 13 though.

Think we need to start both Sao & Satae or we risk being overrun from the off against an almost full strength St's.
I'd also prefer to see Lovodua start at 13 as he showed and offered a real threat in attack abd was solid defensively.. Although not ideal I think Griff needs to go in to the 2nd which is very light weight without Mau & Savelio. A lot depends on if Shaul actually makes it in to the 17.

Stick a few kids out there. It will be a great experience for them to play against the best team in the country in such an emotional match for us on national television.