MIKE CRITCHLEY with pen pics of the boys hoping to bring home the silverware to Langtree Park in Saturday's Grand Final versus Wigan.
17. Paul Wellens
Position: Full back
Age: 34
St Helens born and bred skipper brings a wealth of experience to the side having made his debut in 1998. This is Wellens’ 16th season at the club and he will be playing in his 10th Grand Final. Wellens lost his number one jersey to Jonny Lomax at the start of the year after being dislodged from the position in 2013. Although he had a long spell covering every pack position and the halves, when injuries struck Wellens came into his own when he slotted seamlessly into the full back role. Wellens is a hugely decorated full back – on top of four Super League rings he boasts a Man of Steel, a pair of Lance Todds and a Harry Sunderland Award.
2. Tommy Makinson
Position: Wing
Age: 23
It will be quite a weekend for the flying wing, who celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday. Although the Dream Team member was overlooked for England selection for the autumn’s Four Nations, the former St Judes lad will relish playing against his hometown club. Makinson has made flamboyant one-handed finishes in tight corners his speciality and has been a prolific scorer. He has speed, agility and confidence to back himself to take a man down the outside. He can also play full back and is a good back-up as a goal kicker. This will be Makinson’s second Grand Final after he came on for the injured Wellens in the 2011 defeat.
22. Mark Percival
Position:
Centre Age: 20
Widnesian Percival, who hails from a strong rugby league family, has a wonderful skill-set and could be ready to show that on the big stage. With natural centre’s skills, Percival can beat an opponent using speed, agility and an awareness of where his support players are.
4. Josh Jones Position: Centre/back row Age: 21
As strong as a bull, the Chorley-born former Leyland Warriors, Chorley Panthers and Blackbrook junior was England captain at under 15s and 16s level. He made his debut as an 18-year-old at Warrington in 2012 and has been a regular feature in the first team since. Jones is equally at home in the back row, which may become his position long term.
5. Adam Swift
Position: Wing
Age: 21
Swift is another member from the Blackbrook finishing school, and the young wing has nailed down a spot on the flanks at the expense of the experienced Ade Gardner. With a prolific strike rate since marking his debut with a hat-trick at Widnes in April 2012, Swift uses the full toolkit of speed, a side step, agility and deceptive strength to get over the whitewash. He showed that to good effect in the semi final when he slipped three tackles to get a crucial try before the break. Although he dropped out of the team after injury had affected his form, Swift is now back on song and a key strike weapon.
6. Lance Hohaia
Position: Stand off
Age: 31
Injury to Luke Walsh means a lot is hanging on the experienced former NZ Warrior. In his third and so far best season in the red vee, the former New Zealand World Cup winner brings a lot of big game experience to bear. He’s a big defender for a small man and has an uncanny knack of knowing where to be. Hohaia is a model professional who is equally at home at full back or hooker.
15.
Mark Flanagan
Position: Back row/half back
Age: 26
Son of former Great Britain loose forward Terry, Flanagan is one of the crop of players who have thrived due Saints’ injuries – and has been able to show previously hidden facets of his game. In his third season at Saints since signing from Wests Tigers by then coach Royce Simmons, Flanagan has proved there is more to his game than his strong defence after making a full recovery from the knee injury that wrecked his 2013.
8. Mose Masoe
Position: Prop
Age: 25
The man mountain dubbed ‘The Smiling Assassin’ was signed from Penrith Panthers in the off season. Although he had a slow start to the season with him needing an operation on an injury sustained playing for Samoa in the World Cup, Masoe is now showing his worth. The biggest player on the field, there no stopping him near the line – and that has paid dividends on occasions this year. Masoe’s best game for the club so far was the win over Wigan earlier this year.
9. James Roby
Position: Hooker
Age: 28
Roby is arguably one of the best hookers in the world and a regular 80-minute man for the Saints. His work rate is phenomenal, and despite making 65 tackles he can still come up with the key plays at the other end of the field. A Man of Steel winner, Roby spurned chances to play in the NRL to stick with his hometown team and he signed a five-year deal last winter. Roby is the complete player, with a fantastic kicking game in his locker too. Although he has a contrasting style to Wigan’s Michael McIlorum, that area will be a key duel of the match, as long as the pack gives both an equal footing.
10. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Position: Prop/second row
Age: 28
LMS is playing his best rugby now he has finally been moved away from prop and being deployed as a runner in the second row. He has recovered from a slow start to the season to finish strongly. Saints’ first Londoner since the legendary Cliff Watson, LMS is a popular player.
16. Kyle Amor
Position: Prop
Age: 25
Continuing Saints’ great tradition of big Cumbrian forwards, Amor takes his place alongside John Tembey, Dick Huddart, Peter Gorley and Jonathan Neill. Amor made an immediate impression and fired up the optimism at start of the campaign that did much to give Saints a platform to win the League Leaders’ Shield. Signed on a four-year deal after Saints had paid a transfer fee of £50,000, Amor is just coming into his prime as a prop forward.
11. Sia Soliola
Position: Second row
Age: 28
The strong running 6ft 3ins back row was signed from Sydney Rooster as a centre, but he has largely operated in the thick of the action in the middle. The Samoa World Cup captain will conclude his fifth and final season in the red vee tonight after citing family reasons behind his decision to return Down Under, where he will play for Canberra Raiders. A hugely popular player among the fans, who have warmed to his massive, bone shuddering hits, Soliola was given a rousing send off in his last game at Langtree Park against Catalan.
28. Luke Thompson
Position: Prop/second row
Age: 19
A strong and powerful young forward, the ex-Bold Miners and Pilkington Recs junior has been in the Saints system since he was 11. Tipped as a future international by Saints assistant coach Keiron Cunningham, Thompson gives no-nonsense hard graft and has a fine pair of hands. Thompson made his debut last season – has been used sparingly, but has deserved his recall for the business end of the season.
3. Jordan Turner
Position: Centre/stand off/loose forward
Age: 25
The Oldham-born former England under 18s academy captain joined Saints in 2012 from Hull after starting at Salford. He had a fine 2013 in the centres, but his pace, power, good hands, miracle passes and powerful boot have been utilised differently this year. Injuries to playmakers Walsh and Wilkin has led to Turner being employed as one of the team’s string-pullers in the run to the Grand Final.
13. Willie Manu
Position: Back row
Age: 35
Manu is playing his last game for the Saints, who he joined in 2012 after spending six years at Hull FC. An effective wide runner, the Tongan World Cup packman can bust the tackle and get the ball away and is a key strike weapon on the edge.
14. Anthony Laffranchi
Position: Prop
Age: 34
The former Australia and Italy World Cup player is retiring as a player at the end of the season and returning Down Under. Although the experienced campaigner has missed much of this campaign with a nerve injury to his arm, he recovered to help play his part in the drive to winning the League Leaders’ Shield.
18. Alex Walmsley
Position: Prop
Age: 24
Tall, quick and powerful, the long-striding front rower has been a revelation since signing from Batley ahead of the 2013 campaign. One of the tallest players in the game, big things are expected of Walmsley as he matures into the position.
24. Gary Wheeler
Position: Stand off/centre
Age: 25
A naturally gifted footballer, Wheeler’s career has been sadly decimated by injury so far. Another former Blackbrook junior, Wheeler possesses a great side step and vision – and he will be moving on to pastures new after this weekend.
27. Greg Richards
Position: Prop
Age: 19
Another Cumbrian forward, the thick-set Barrovian has produced performances that belie his years in the thick of the action in the middle of the park. The teenager has shown he has the size and the heart to succeed at the highest level after making his debut midway through the 2013 season.
26. Matt Dawson
Position: Wing/centre
Age: 25
Saints signed the versatile three-quarter from Huddersfield at the start of this season. He has given the team some solid, unflashy performances and enjoyed a good run on the flanks.
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