Meli enjoying life in Saints' potent left hand gang (From St Helens Star)

Meli enjoying life in Saints' potent left hand gang

1:24pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sport By Mike Critchley

POWERHOUSE wingman Francis Meli may still be planning to go home at the end of the year, but he is having something of a super swansong season if that is the case.

Meli has been one of the side's main strike weapons on a lethal left edge that has caused opposition defences problems.

He has grabbed some real blockbusting tries already this term, but he had to use the footwork of a ballerina and the power of a raging bull to score his crucial touchdown at Warrington the other week.

Meli said: “It was not the easiest of tries but I know my opportunities are limited so when I do get them I try to make the most of them.

“That is probably one of my best ones.

“You know where the sideline is – I am not giving away my little secrets but I have been in those tight spots a lot of times and that comes through trial and error. You do things that work and others that don’t.”

The elder statesman in the Saints ranks, Meli, who turns 34 next month, brings experience to the three-quarter line.

And he is delighted with the way that the three-quarters have been brought into play which is keeping him busy – and he has nothing but praise for the way Jonny Lomax has handled directing the back three.

“It is pretty obvious that our left hand side is our main attacking side.

“Wello has given Jonny a lot of tips on what needs to be controlled from the back and I think one of them is talk.

“Talk is the main thing and Jonny is a quick learner.

“In the first game Jonny tried to break himself into it and each game he has confidence has grown.

“He is excited to play back there and you can see he has a lot of room to move and do the things that he wants,” Meli said.