LOUIE McCarthy-Scarsbook made a slow start to the 2017 campaign, but since being restored to the middle unit he has provided energy to Saints’ go-forward as they continue their recovery.

The 31-year-old Londoner, now in his seventh season in the red vee, needed surgery in the off season on a bone spur was ripping the cartilage in his hip.

So an early degree of sluggishness was exposed playing on the edge in a team that was collectively struggling.

Match fitness and the switch back to being a ball-carrying middle man, working in tandem with Luke Thompson and Morgan Knowles, has brought better results for him and the team.

McCarthy-Scarsbrook was pleased with the way they have turned the corner in recent weeks.

He said: “We had some close losses, the change in management with Kez leaving was a shock.

“It was sad because he is a great bloke; a legend at the club and was a leader for us.

“But Justin has come in and revitalised us and switched us back on to what we need to do as a group.

“He calmed us down and made the game plan simple.

“Although we have had a solid defence all season, we have made a few tweaks with the ball and are playing to the gameplan that he sets out.”

McCarthy-Scarsbrook thought he had a perfectly good try disallowed and was bemused when it was chalked off.

"I scored! I can’t believed he didn’t give it and I gave him the filthiest look ever afterwards," he said.

The Londoner takes pride in the way Saints, with the second best points against in the league, have been defensively sound.

But they will need to be on their mettle on Friday against a Huddersfield side that has racked up 100 points in two matches.

“Defence wins games and ours is important to us.

“Huddersfield have got some strike and Danny Brough is very influential with a great kicking game and is a great player,” he said.