St Helens squad tested with Mark Percival moved into new position and Tee Ritson named on bench

Paul Wellens has been forced to make several changes to his St Helens squad ahead of their Super League fixture with Hull KR at Craven Park.

Wellens admitted he was ‘down on troops’ in his forward pack ahead of the Round Nine clash, with several stars missing due to injuries and suspension.

England international centre Mark Percival has been named in the back-row following the absence of Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen and Sione Mata’utia.

Batchelor, 28, continues to rehab an ankle injury sustained during the club’s NRL pre-season clash with St George Illawarra Dragons in February.

Mata’utia, 26, misses out due to head injury protocols after being knocked out against Wigan in the Good Friday derby defeat. He is set to be sidelined for an extended period of time after also failing a HIA against Huddersfield in March. 

Sironen, 29, misses out through injury, alongside prop forward Agnatius Paasi.

Sam Royle has also been named at starting back-row.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook has been named to fill the void at prop alongside Matty Lees, with Alex Walmsley still out with a hamstring injury.

Scotland international James Bell has been named at loose forward, with Morgan Knowles having received a monster five-match ban for a Grade D dangerous contact charge on Mike Cooper.

Winger Tee Ritson has been named on the bench alongside the returning Jake Wingfield, who has missed the last three matches with a shoulder injury.

Joey Lussick and George Delaney complete the bench, with Lewis Baxter named as 18th man. 

St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Hurrell, Hopoate, Bennison, Lomax, Dodd, LMS, Roby, Lees, Percival, Royle, Bell. Bench: Lussick, Wingfield, Ritson, Delaney. 18: Baxter.

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