SAINTS head coach Nathan Brown is planning to stick with the half-back pairing of Jordan Turner and Gary Wheeler.


Although winger Adam Swift tackled the role on dual registration for Rochdale Hornets at the
weekend, and with Paul Wellens also an option, Brown believes the partnership can improve.

In the absence of experienced playmakers Luke Walsh, Lance Hohaia and Jon Wilkin, Brown
handed Turner and Wheeler their first start in tandem in Friday night’s loss to lowly Hull.


And Brown has set clear goals as the league leaders return to training ahead of their next match against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on August 15.

After players were given some time off in the early part of this week, the focus now is on putting right areas that were not up to scratch at the KC Stadium.

Top of the agenda is finding ways to get the best out of the new halves.

He also wants to see a return to recent form from his forwards, who he felt were a little loose against Hull, especially in defence, and in creating the platform for the team’s kicking game.

Brown said: “We all know about the people who have unfortunately fallen over in the past six weeks in key positions and the biggest thing for us is how we can make it easy for the people who are playing those positions now.

“We have got vastly different personnel in key positions and we need to look at what we can provide that actually helps Gary Wheeler and Jordan Turner.

“And the playing group need to think how they can help make life easier for them blokes too. At Hull I don’t think any of us really helped them enough.

“The key is looking at the commitment and effort for one another and also from a structure point of view what’s going to suit them (Turner and Wheeler) the best.”

Brown said the issues raised in the loss to Hull can be fixed.

“It’s week one with them in position. I’m sure we’ll be able to be a little more prepared for the next game.


“Our forwards in particular can probably help our halves a little bit. It doesn’t really matter who
your personnel are. If your middle men aren’t as good as the opposition you are always going to be under a little bit more pressure and I thought Hull’s middle were a little better than ours.


“We’ve had a lot of times where our middle has done very well so we need to go back to the drawing board, have a look at one or two things structurally with our attack and that can help our kicking game.

“Our middle blokes can help our kicking game by doing a little bit better in defence.”