Former St Helens captain Jon Wilkin has made a ‘revolutionary’ suggestion for how the club can balance their spine in the coming weeks.
Saints have had spine issues throughout the season though they had eased with a perfect solution seemingly found as they went on a run of nine wins in ten games, however, that has been bookended by losses to Hull KR.
The defeat in May saw Jack Welsby limp off with the England full-back ruled out for eight of the ensuing ten games, playing a bit-part role in the ninth and a prominent role in the tenth, before then playing his third game since returning in Friday night’s loss to Hull KR.
During that period when Welsby was out injured, Tristan Sailor reverted to full-back and St Helens seemed to find form with Sailor in particular thriving. Welsby’s return from injury has added a spanner in the works with both men unable to play full-back.
However, that might not be the case with Jon Wilkin suggesting an “almost revolutionary” system where both men could operate at full-back in lieu of a second half-back.
St Helens urged to play two full-backs to solve Sailor Welsby dilemma
Speaking ahead of St Helens’ clash with Hull KR on Friday night, a game that the Red Vee lost 12-8 and saw Sailor play on the wing due to injuries to to Kyle Feldt and Owen Dagnall, Wilkin put forward his ideal spine.
He suggested Jack Welsby as the standard full-back with Sailor and captain Jonny Lomax in the halves, whilst Daryl Clark and Morgan Knowles completed the spine, however, he had different ideas for how Sailor would play.
“Tristan Sailor looks at home at full-back and this is why I’ve selected Welsby and Sailor. I think they play with two full-backs,” suggested Wilkin.
“I think they can revolutionise the concept of a half-back, a six and a one. I’d play with two full-backs, that’s both in attack and defence. I’d let them both roll around the field, a bit like Dufty and Williams follow each other around.”
Expanding on his idea, he said: “Let Lomax and Knowles hold the middle of the field as Paul Wellens knows that his middle is tight. I’d also defend them (Sailor and Welsby) there. I’d just sent them both back there and play four (with the wingers).
“They’re great kick returners. It’s different and almost revolutionary in some regards.”
One aspect that St Helens would lose would be Moses Mbye’s kicking game and Wilkin accepted that but argued that each of the spine players who do play can improve their own kicking games.
On losing Mbye, he said: “That’s the one part of the plan that doesn’t work but I feel if you’ve got the experience of Lomax and Clark and you’ve got Tristan Sailor and Welsby, then they all have to be practicing their kicking game.”
