FRENCH international scrum half Theo Fages was rewarded for a strong off season by getting the nod last night in Saints' opening night win over Wigan.
But the door is not shut on last year's Dream Team number seven Danny Richardson who did not make the match day 17.
Fages impressed, dogged in defence and providing a box of tricks as he probed and prodded the line, with full back Lachlan Coote assuming plenty of the last tackle kicking duties.
Holbrook explained his reasons behind his selection - which gave a hint that the two could be interchangeable depending on the opposition.
The Saints boss: "Danny had a disrupted pre-season and was in rehab till Christmas but he is 100 per cent now.
“Theo has worked really hard – there was not much in it, but that is the way we wanted to go tonight.
“Theo is a very tough, solid player.
“Danny will play a big part for us this year, but for round one against Wigan this is the way we went.".
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