St Helens rugby league coach Paul Rowley is confronting a significant injury crisis ahead of the team’s upcoming match against Toulouse. Rowley revealed that 15 players are currently sidelined, forcing the club to navigate a challenging period in their Super League campaign.
Among the latest injuries sustained during the Magic Weekend loss to Wigan is prop David Klemmer, who had expressed his willingness to play despite suffering three broken ribs and internal bleeding. Rowley emphasized the need to protect players from exacerbating serious injuries, stating that not allowing Klemmer to participate is a precaution against potentially life-changing consequences. The coach highlighted a collective responsibility to safeguard the players’ health amid such circumstances.
Additional absences include Daryl Clark, who is expected to be out for approximately two months due to an ankle injury, while Alex Walmsley and George Delaney failed their Head Injury Assessments. These setbacks leave St Helens with a depleted squad as they seek to rebound following a run of five losses in six games.
To address the shortage, the club has incorporated several young and less experienced players into the squad. Loan signing Jed Cartwright from Hull FC will make his debut, and four players yet to receive official squad numbers—Matty Evans, Billy Keeley, Cole Marsh, and Chris Matagi—have been included for the Toulouse fixture. Rowley acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but also pointed to the opportunities it provides to unearth new talent and build team character.
“You wouldn’t choose to be in these situations,” Rowley said, “but there’s always something good that comes out of it. You find out about people’s characters and it gives you a chance to reset and discover new talent and lots of other positive things as well.” He described the team’s current position as “backs against the walls” and “in the trenches,” adding that adversity can sometimes be a beneficial environment.
Despite the injury challenges, St Helens remain determined to secure a play-off spot and return to winning ways in the Super League. Rowley noted that while the cluster of injuries is unfortunate, the team can only focus on what is controllable and avoid dwelling on the uncontrollable setbacks.