It's a tough one. I think I'd put LMS at second row ahead of Flanagan, who for all his great defence is a total passenger in attack. This would give us a bit of strike on the edge and would get LMS out of the prop/LF role in which he's been underachieving. I'm a fan of Percival, but I think Jones has been great at centre (he reminds me a bit of Talau) and I'd keep him there for the time being. So I'd go with something like the following:

1. Lomax
2. Makinson
3. Turner
4. Jones
5. Swift
6. Hohaia
7. Walsh
8. Amor
9. Roby
10. Walmsley
11. LMS
12. Wilkin
13. Soliola

14. Masoe
15. Savelio
16. Wellens
17. Greenwood

Percival hasn't played so cant be match fit.

Lomax at one
Swift and Makinson on wings if fit. Otherwise we are in big trouble especially with Dawson being out.

Centres will be Jones and Turner, with Wheeler being an outside bet. Though Wheeler pulled up at Widnes with a knock.
Personally would like to think Jones could cover our dodgy right side defence from second row.
If Soliola plays there, Leeds will target that channel and rip us to shreds down there.

Halves Hohoia and Walsh

Props hopefully Amor and Walmsley
hooker Roby
second rows. Wilkin and Flanagan though outside bet for Jones.
loose forward. Walker or LMS. Tempted to leave LMS out completely.

Bench: Soliola, Savelio, Masoe,Greenwood.

More or less what I'd go with. Not so sure I'd try Lms in Backrow in such an important game. I'd lol to see what he's defence is like on the edge first but entirely agree about getting him away from that front line prop.

Also agree on Flash. Works hard, tackles everything but got nothing with the ball.

Turner and LMS should be nowhere near the team

1. Lomax
2. Makinson
3. Turner
4. Jones
5. Swift
6. Hohaia
7. Walsh

8. Amor
9. Roby
10. Walmsley
11. Soliola
12. Flanagan
13. Wilkin

Subs:
14. Wello
15. Masoe
16. Greenwood
17. Walker

Left out: Savelio and LMS

I know most would be tempted to give Savelio a run on Saturday, but I'm not sure it'd be to his long term benefit. The week after against London yes, but the cup tie at Leeds is for experience in the main.

Lomax
Makinson
Jones (right side to deal with Moon)
Turner
Swift
Hohaia
Walsh
Amor
Roby
Walmsley
Flanagan
Soliola
Wilkin

Masoe
McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Wellens
Greenwood

Lomax
Makinson
Turner
Jones
Swift
Hohaia
Walsh
Amor
Roby
Walmsley
Soliola
Wilkin
LMS

Masoe
Savelio
Greenwood
Wellens

For me (ideally)

Lomax
Makinson Turner Jones Swift
Hohaia* Walsh
Amor Roby Masoe
Wilkin Greenwood
Soliola

Walmsley Richards Flanaghan Savelio

*hohaia is based on previous form, I didn't see the game today, so depending on the highlights it may be wheeler.

This is the first game we should not play wellens - that's no comment on his performances or his form, but we need to win games without him eventually, and I think this game is the best time to start that process.

Jones has been the best centre so far this year, Percival will be lacking match practice, so it seems a no brainer for me, let Percival play 19s for a few weeks and regain fitness.

4 props is a must for me - LMS just isn't cutting it, he has to be dropped. Richards outplayed him on Good Friday (not hard, so did I!) so he gets the call - he played well vs Leeds in the league as well.

We seem surprisingly lacking in the back row now ... By all accounts, Savelio offers an option, but only plays short minutes - coupled with soliola, who played both Easter games, were lacking minutes - which is balanced out by Wilkin and Flanaghan playing long minutes (even though both are lacking in form)

As much as I'd like wheeler/ lance on the bench, it's not going to happen,

LMS is copping some flack, as he did last year before moving to loose forward, where he was a revelation. This year, everyone but him has had a run a LF. Put him there and give him chance to prove himself, particualrly while we are struggling for back rowers.

But this is the problem we need props to do the hard yards, not everyone can play in the loose position.

We have LMS/Wellens/Wilkin and Jones (maybe flanaghan and Savelio too)

I'll be honest from the stats this week I know who I would drop.

When things are going great everyone looks fab, but in a way this bad run shows you where your real strengths and weaknesses are.

I would not pick LMS for this match and neither would I pick Wellens. Not sure how fit Savelio is, but he could be a game breaker for us, to me he has earned his place on the bench. In a poor display and limited minutes he did a huge amount.

I think we need to be a little more moneyball and less anecdotal. The stats do tell a story.

Everyone has put Jones who is excellent in attack but poor in defence in a similar way to Turner. I hope Percival is back to replace one of these.

Jones is 4th in tackling this year, and was 3rd overall last year, the stats show he had a poor game defensively vs widnes, but overall he's the best defensive centre we've had for years.

Percival is no great shakes in defence and is just recovering from injury and not match fit - why throw him into the biggest match of the year so far?

I put Percival in!!!!!!!!!!







Having said that, Jones is generally very good defensively. It was 2 games over Easter so you would expect a drop off from those playing twice.

Also as has been pointed out Percival will not be match fit.

So although I did pick him, I may have to go back on that now.

My one man crusade to leave jones at centre continues



In the long term (when the 100k rule comes in and koukash goes and buys every Salford grown player in the league), a 3/4 line of Makinson Percival Jones Swift is a very exciting prospect - and once again a credit to our youth system!

And vs's the goons.

13 tackles 2 marker tackles 2 misses is bad? It's in line with the team average (which is admittedly, poor for him, as he's usually above average)

I'd also suggest in both games the fringes struggled, as the forwards didn't do their job on the inside, which makes outside backs jobs far harder to do.

As an aside (as I've just been looking at the tackling stats) Roby is insane 370 tackles, compared to our second top tackler (Wilkin) on 219 - dear god someone help him out!

Was he a revelation, or did he just have a couple of good games?

He can't be trusted to put a proper shift in so he wouldn't make any team I was picking.

I'd send him to Rochdale for a couple of weeks and remind him that playing for Saints requires hard work rather than high fives and interviews.

The 17 for Leeds should be the ones that want it most. That's what we're lacking in, commitment.

Maybe revelation is stretching it a little, but who has had a better game at 13 in the last 12 months? 13 is a key position and he is the only player to honestly make an impact there.

Not a bad shout actually, I'd go

Lomax
Makinson
Turner
Jones
Swift
Hohaia
Walsh
Amor
Roby
Walmsley
Flanaghan
Wilkin
LMS

Soliola
Savelio
Masoe
Richards (Or is he out? If he's out then Greenwood)

Lomax
Makinson
Percival
Jones
Swift
Hohiah
Walsh
Amor
Roby
Walmsley
Soliola
Flanagan
Wilkin

Masoe
Richards
Savelio
Wellens

His form in the second half of last season was outstanding and helped lead us into our period of good form.
He had a great game when we beat wigan and then followed it up with another great game against catalan, when he also filled in that player who started on Walmsley.
He has the potential to be not only effective, but extremely influential to the team.

He needs a rocket up his . Send him to Rochdale for a bit. At least someone like Ant Walker will put the graft in.

I disagree on this. LMS has proven time and again, he looks good when things are going well, but doesn't have the ability to change momentum when things are going against us. He looks good at 13 because he can pick and choose when he gets involved, and can get away from doing hard graft.

That said, LMS at 13 gives us far more options for the game vs Leeds

I instantly thought of our first game at Sakfords new ground, in which we were losing, then he came in and played a blinder and we came back and won. That's only one game and it was two years ago, mind, but I do think he was at the forefront of our good perfromences last year.
He does look better when he starts at 13, and you're right, it because there's two other pros to do his work for him.

By all accounts Hohaia had a good game v Leeds.
That was when your pack beat the opposition forwards. Like any hb if your pack wins they have a good game, when they lose the hb's disappear.
The second half v Wigan both Hohaia & Walsh were anonymous, probably because the Saints pack lost their battle big time.
Yes, you may need a better 6 than Lance but the problem to me lies with your pack. Are they capable of winning in the big games? They equalled Wigan's forwards in the first half and went in half time at 3 tries each.
Two quick scores by Wigan early 2nd half and despite down to 2 subs the Wigan forwards won the battle of the packs very clearly.
If Saints want to get back to winning trophies so they have to reinforce the pack before anything.