St Helens hopeful of Curtis Sironen boost as coach provides injury update
Photo: Steve Flynn/News Images
St Helens coach Paul Wellens says they are hoping to have influential forward Curtis Sironen back to face Salford on Saturday afternoon.
The 29-year-old hasn’t featured since their 14-6 defeat to Wigan on Good Friday, having recently been nursing a hamstring injury.
But he is set to boost the Saints for when they host Salford in front of the Channel 4 cameras on Saturday.
Wellens said: “We’re hoping Curtis will play this week. He was named in the squad last week but never got to play.
“It was great to have Tommy (Makinson) back this week, and obviously he will continue. Other than that, we don’t have any other players returning from outside of the 21 that we named last week.
“I’m of the opinion that, in terms of our back-row quality and what we have here, Sione Mata’utia when he’s fit, Curtis Sironen and Joe Batchelor, I think we have three of the best back-rowers in the competition.
“The way Curtis in particular finished last year and the way he started this year, particularly the games in Australia, I thought he was outstanding.
“Hopefully we can get that Siro back and performing consistently well over a long period because he’s a really important member of the group.”
Paul Wellens previews St Helens clash with Salford
Saturday’s game at the Totally Wicked Stadium has all the ingredients to be a cracker.
Saalford currently sit fifth in the Super League table, four points above champions St Helens, who have a game in hand.
On the Red Devils, Wellens said: “They’ve been great. I think they’re a team that continues to grow and continues to improve.
“They’ve got some real squad depth now as well which certainly helps when you’re trying to navigate your way through a long season.
“They’ve got players who would normally be outside their starting 17 coming in and doing a really good job. That’s important.
“I’m sure Paul Rowley, like all of us coaches, he’s constantly looking for ways to improve but they’ve got the raw ingredients there to be a top team because of their competitive nature and I think that’s what stands out about them.”
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