NATHAN Brown has indicated it is likely he will partner Jordan Turner with Gary Wheeler in the halves when Saints face Hull FC this Friday.
After confirming Luke Walsh will be out for the next four to five months with a broken leg he said that duo was probably the best option at the present time.
“Both played there last week and did well,” he explained. “Gary played there earlier in the year and Jordan has come in there this season and done a good job. He also played there for Hull FC a number of times too. He did well last week and also when Lance Hohaia came off against London.
“Shannon McDonnell will also come into contention and will be in the 19 man squad. There’s no doubt at some stage we will want to see him play a game or two and we know Paul Wellens can do a job there (in the halves) too.”
He continued: “Jordy kicks the ball well as does Gary Wheeler and James Roby is a terrific kicker too. We will also have to rely on other ways to get by – the forwards will have to step up as they have been doing.
“Turner is a good talker and we all know what Wheels can do; we have confidence in them both. But at the end of the day it will come down to how well our forwards play.
“There will be some slight adjustments to how we play and we will have to share the responsibility across the board. We’d expect other guys to chip in too, talk more, and Wellens’ and Roby’s experience will be important.
“Jordy trained at six in pre-season and is excited by the challenge. They aren’t foreign to those positions. It is Gary’s preferred position and Turner’s second.”
Saints travel to Hull FC this Friday and the Airlie Birds lie five points off Widnes in eighth.
“They’ve had periods this year when they have been brilliant,” Brown continued. “They nearly beat Warrington, did a good job on Huddersfield and were unlucky not to beat Castleford last week.
“Mickey Paea, Iafeta Paleaaesina and Gareth Ellis are a handful and Joe Westerman has been consistent throughout the year.
“Off the back of that they have two dangerous hookers.”