Brown hoping to see an end to early season injury curse (From St Helens Star)

Brown hoping to see an end to Saints' early season injury curse

3:07pm Wednesday 20th February 2013 in Sport

SAINTS will be without skipper Paul Wellens for up to a month after he picked up a calf injury during Friday’s draw against Hull.

In his absence Jon Wilkin will take the captain’s armband with Tommy Makinson likely to drop back to full back, allowing Ade Gardner to come in on the wing for Saturday afternoon’s trip to Bradford.

But after seeing James Roby get a knock in the opening game, then Josh Perry and Lance Hohaia suffer injuries at Widnes, Saints boss Nathan Brown is hoping that the early season injury curse will stop.

He said “We have now had a bit of a run with injuries losing blokes in key positions. Generally it comes in threes so hopeful that is our three up now!

“We have a numbers of options to look at and want to put someone there who is going to stay there for a month, but Tommy Makinson is one of the likely candidates.”

Without a win at Odsal in their last two outings, Saints take on a rejuvenated Bulls side that has made a lively start to the campaign under new boss Francis Cummins.

Brown said: “Bradford started well and they are going really good Franny worked with Mick (Potter) last year and they got some nice stuff going when they held the group together when they were not getting paid.

“It is a credit to the staff and the playing group – and shows there is some character about the place.”

Brown sees plenty of threat coming from Australian Brett Kearney, who, although wearing a number one, operates like an additional stand off.

“Franny has got them playing some good stuff. They have got some players that are real livewires. Jarrod Sammut and Brett Kearney can really sting you.

“We have got some big games coming up. We just want to grind out some wins and get our game where we want to be,” he said.