SAINTS coach Kristian Woolf has given an update on skipper James Roby – who left the field with a head knock after the first minute of tonight’s testimonial with Leigh.

And he also explained the absence of four of the Grand Final winning team from Saints’ only pre-season hit out before Super League starts.

Roby bounced off a tackle in the opening exchanges of the match and was led off suffering the effects of a head knock.

Afterwards Woolf said: “James has recovered fine after copping that knock in the first minute.

“It is not what you like to see as when a bloke falls like that you know it’s a head knock straight away.

“I am not sure if he could have been allowed to go back on – and as much as we didn’t want to see that happen it was a good opportunity to get Aaron Smith on and then give Josh Eaves a bit more time too.”

Woolf explained the absences of Lachlan Coote, Regan Grace, Matty Lees and Morgan Knowles were precautionary measures.

“Matty Lees has got a bit of a foot injury – something that he very easily could have trained through but if you push a player through training and a game they would carry that niggle through to round one and that is not smart.

“So we gave him the time there to make sure that by round one he 100 per cent and ready to go,” Woolf said.

“Lachlan Coote had a bit of a calf strain – and he too is certainly going to be right for round one.

“Regan Grace just picked up a knock in training and just had to miss out, but if this had been a big game then he would have played.

“Morgan Knowles has had thumb surgery that has just been a little bit sore – and there was no point throwing him out there for a trial that would have only made him sore again for round one.

“And Joe Batchelor copped a little bit of a head knock, so we needed to look after him and make sure he is healthy.

“I’d expect all of those guys to be fit and healthy for round one and they are class players who make a difference too.”