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Rugby League

Front row losses key to Saints' inconsistency, says Anderson

26/03/2008

Coach Daniel Anderson has claimed the loss of his first-choice front row this season has led to St Helens' "inconsistent" start to the season.

Saints are without Nick Fozzard, Jason Cayless and Keiron Cunningham due to injury, although the latter pair are expected to return to the first-team fold in April.

However, Anderson will still be deprived of his injured stars - which also includes regular captain Paul Sculthorpe - for the visit of last year's Super League champions Leeds Rhinos this Friday.

"We've been inconsistent this year and we're trying to work out the best solutions but I won't make a real fair assessment of us until I get Jason Cayless and Keiron Cunningham back," Anderson explained.

"Fozz is gone for a while, but if we can get Jason and Keiron back it gives us size and experience in the front row."

The match this weekend is a repeat of last year's grand final between the Saints and the Rhinos, which ended 33-6 to the Headingley outfit.

And Anderson has admitted reversing that result could prove tough with a relatively inexperienced forward line.

"Our grand final front row has not been together this year and I've asked Bryn Hargreaves, James Roby and James Graham to do a mountain of work when they've not been expected or conditioned to do it in the past two years," he added.