St. Helens Season Preview
Here is all the information that you need to get to know the saints team.
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Overview
On paper, saints still have a very strong squad, but with the players getting a year older, as with their squad, with a combined age of 28, players such as Long and Cunningham, who are the catalyst to the saints success of the last 10 years. Saints have had it tough, winning the challenge cup and the league leaders shield for two years in succession only to lose in the grand final to eventual champions, Leeds Rhinos in both finals at Old Trafford.
New Coach
With Daniel Anderson leaving for his native Australia, having won an amazing 9 trophies with the most successful side in Super League, many people will ask, what will happen now to saints? But with the new coach, Mick Potter, they have found the ideal replacement for the likable Aussie. Potter has done an amazing job at Catalan Dragons who have only been in Super League for 3 years, with him getting them to 3rd place in 2008 and getting them to the first challenge cup final at Wembley, eventually losing to Saints ironically.
Squad
- 1. Paul Wellens
- 2. Ade Gardner
- 3. Matt Gidley
- 5. Francis Meli
- 6. Leon Pryce
- 7. Sean Long
- 8. Jason Cayless
- 9. Keiron Cunningham
- 10. James Graham
- 11. Lee Gilmour
- 12. Jon Wilkin
- 13. Chris Flannery
- 14. James Roby
- 15. Bryn Hargreaves
- 16. Tony Puletua
- 17. Paul Clough
- 18. Kyle Eastmond
- 19. Chris Dean
- 20. Gareth Frodsham
- 21. Gary Wheeler
- 22. Shaun Magennis
- 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu
- 24. Andrew Dixon
- 25. Jamie Foster
- 26. Andrew Yates
- 27. Jamie Ellis
- 28. Matty Ashurst
- 29. Tom Armstrong
- 30. Jonny Lomax
- 31. Jacob Emmitt
With the big losses of Paul Sculthorpe, Willie Talau, Nick Fozzard and Mike Bennett, and the only replacement being Tony Peletua, can saints cope with the extra strain of possible injuries? Many argue that with promising youngsters coming through the ranks that saints should manage the strain. Only time will tell.
Prediction: 2nd (Challenge cup winners and grand final runners up)
Full table predictions
1. Leeds Rhinos2. St.Helens Saints3. Wigan Warriors4, Bradford Bulls5. Warrington Wolves6. Hull FC7. Catalan Dragons8. Hull KR
9. Huddersfield Giants10. Wakefield Trinity Cats11. Harlequins RL12. Castleford Tigers13. Salford City Reds14. Celtic Crusaders
Please leave your predictions below
