Rush pleads to RFL to change Easter weekend

St Helens acting head coach Mike Rush has pleaded to the RFL to reconsider the Easter programme.

The plea comes after Saints suffered four serious injuries against Wigan and Casteford during the long weekend.

Jon Wilkin (shoulder) came off the field on Good Friday, whilst Tony Puletua (shoulder), Ade Gardner (knee) and Gary Wheeler (hamstring) were all brought off in Monday’s win against Castleford.

 Rush said: “I think the RFL do have to have a look at playing Friday and Monday.

“We played an intense game against Wigan and then had to dust off and ask 110kg blokes to smash into each other once again. I’m not sure that is right.

“Maybe you could have all the local derbies spread across the weekend on the TV?”

However despite his concerns for his players, Rush has options ahead of his side’s Challenge Cup tie with Widnes.

He said: “Tommy Makinson, Adam Swift and Jamie Foster all are in with a shout for that wing spot. 

“Adam has been in the 19 for the last two weeks and is benefitting from that experience. He won’t be far away on getting a shout at some point.

“Since Josh Jones has come in, he’s done really well. We need to keep his feet on the floor and he needs to continue to do what he is doing. He was a powerful centre with genuine pace too. At Castleford, every time he carried the ball he looked like winning the battle on the floor.”