LACHLAN Coote will miss Friday night’s Super League home clash with Castleford after picking up a head-knock in the Wembley defeat, sidelining him under the concussion protocol.

He came off dizzy at the end of the game and will be replaced by Jack Welsby on a night in which they will be presented with the League Leaders Shield.

It is an unfortunate absence, as with three games to go until the Super League play-offs, coach Justin Holbrook wants those players who have been sidelined with injury to build their match fitness.

Prior to Wembley Coote had not played since the Wigan game in mid July, skipper James Roby had only featured twice, while loose forward Morgan Knowles missed the previous four with broken ribs and prop Alex Walmsley had been sidelined since the semi with a retina injury.

Their comeback game, in 30 degree heat, saw them all a little under-cooked - one of many factors in the Wembley defeat.

Coote, however, was under more scrutiny than most given his quality performances all season with his mistake under the high bomb magnified.

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Defending the Saints number one, Holbrook said: “He hadn’t played for five weeks and the workload that he got through saw him run three or four kilometres more than any other game.

“People don’t see stats like that and then throw in 30 degrees not 20.

“He was definitely a bit rusty, but all our fans who watch every week know that he has been one of our best all season and puts his body on the line better than anyone.

“He came up with a couple of errors, that is for sure, out of fatigue, but we will take him every day of the week.”

With regards to selection policy moving through the last remaining games, Holbrook said: “It is important at the back end of this year we get those boys full of match fitness and we hit the finals full of running.”

“They have not been resting, I wanted them all to play against Leeds but Big Al did not get clear with his eye, Morgan Knowles was due to play but was crook, it was too soon for Cootey’s knee and Robes was not right.

“It was tough for Robes, he hasn’t played a lot himself, and makes 66 tackles because they had so much more ball, due to our own undoing.

“We didn’t have the luxury of getting them a game. They were 100 per cent at weekend so there is no excuse on the side we picked.”