Indefinite timeframe for Sione Mata’utia as Saints boss provides the latest

St Helens coach Paul Wellens has provided the latest on Sione Mata’utia, who will see a specialist again in regards to his concussion.

Mata’utia hasn’t played since suffering a head knock in their defeat to rivals Wigan on Good Friday.

It was his second concussion in the space of three weeks, after he underwent an 11-day protocol after failing his head injury assessment in their win at Huddersfield.

St Helens sent the former Australia and Samoa international to see a specialist regarding the recurring head injuries, and he will have another appointment in the coming days.

Speaking to the media in his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Wellens said: “He’s got another appointment very soon that he needs to follow up on.

“It is pretty much guided by that appointment that he has in regards to where we are at with Sione.

“It is pretty similar to the last time I spoke to you. I can’t give you a definitive timeframe as of yet but once he has that appointment there will be a bit more clarity around things.

“What I can say about Sione is that he is improving well. He is back out on the training field doing some training and reintegrating a bit more inter-squad.

“He hasn’t done any contact work or anything like that as you can imagine. We will be patient and do what is right by Sione.

“As you all know, he is a very important player for us. It’d be great to get him back but we’ll be patient with him and we’ll see when that happens.”

Sione Mata’utia showing good signs in recovery

Whilst it is an indefinite return for Mata’utia, the 26-year-old is recovering well and is showing great signs of improvement.

Wellens added: “What we have to do in situations like this is take the advice of professionals but also be guided by Sione’s symptoms.

“For a few weeks after that incident Sione was displaying some symptoms which put us in a position that put us in a position were we couldn’t train him that much or even think about playing him. I’m glad to say nearly all of those symptoms have subsided now and Sione is making great improvement.

“Hopefully it is sooner rather than later but we will be guided by the professionals there.”

Wellens confirmed that prop Alex Walmsley, back-rower Curtis Sironen and winger Tommy Makinson will return for their trip to Catalans on Friday night.

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