Powell Previews Saints Clash

With Cas falling to Warrington in a narrow 9-8 loss, Head Coach Daryl Powell will be anticipating a strong response as St. Helens visit The Mend-A-Hose Jungle this week, but ahead of their visit Powell felt last week's result should help galvanise the team this Sunday.

“(Warrington) were a bit of a desperate team last week I thought, they were at it, and we were a little off it. In the contact area, they beat us, but they had 400 metres more than us, which is unheard of to be honest!

“We were disappointed in a couple of areas last week, we’re mindful of that and that we need to improve, and we’ve done some work to improve those areas this week.”

The third-placed Fords will run out against a strong Saints team that will also have ambitions of silverware this season, but Powell anticipates a stern test against a team boasting quality across the park.

“I think Saints as a team are a massive challenge anywhere that you go. The outside backs are great, the halfbacks are embedded and playing well: Lomax is one of the best players in the competition at the moment.

“Coote’s coming back in, he’s a very smart rugby league player. They’re just physical everywhere, Roby’s one of the best players that’s ever played the game for me, so we need to be switched on all across the board.”

Many of these names will be familiar to Danny Richardson, and ahead of a clash with his former club, Powell backed the young halfback to continue his impressive performances that have seen him among Super League's top point scorers through the first six rounds.

“(Richardson)’s always got a spring in his step anyway! Obviously it’ll be an important game for him, he’ll want to play well, not to prove a point, just to play well and do well for his new club.

“He’s settled in really well as a person and as a player, so we’ve got a couple of really good young halfbacks and he’s fitted in awesome.”

Elsewhere, Powell has named a largely unchanged side with James Clare returning from sickness to step in on the left wing and Oliver Holmes being replaced by Liam Watts, who will be raring to go after only coming back from a spell on the sidelines himself.

“Wattsy will come back into the squad and Oli Holmes will drop out with that injury he suffered last week, which is not as bad as we first thought – it’s potentially only a week – which is great news for him and for us.”

Watts has made a quick return after recovering from a injury to his hand, initially feared to keep the prop out several weeks, but Powell is already hoping that the Tigers’ number 8 can make his presence felt on the field.

“We’ve had some good news in the last few weeks, obviously injuries are massive in terms of impact on your team, so it’s really good news: (Watts) has his finger splintered at the moment, and it’ll be a little bit awkward for him, but he’s an important player for us, so it’s great to have him back in and around it.”