Our game is in total disarray
ALEX WALMSLEY has urged Super League to get a grip amid a growing fixture chaos.
St Helens have only played one league game in more than a month ahead of tonight’s derby against Wigan.
The Warriors, by contrast, have played four games in that period and lost all four, partly because of major injury problems.
It swings the odds firmly in the favour of champions Saints but prop Walmsley said it is not how games should be settled.
He said: “We’re having that many games called off that it’s not a great look for the sport. We’re going through a sticky patch.
“We need to get on top of it and keep the competition going.”
Saints were awarded a 24-0 win on Wednesday when Castleford were unable to field a team because of Covid problems.
Walmsley and his team-mates were also left kicking their heels when Covid outbreaks at Hull KR and Leeds forced those fixtures to be postponed.
Salford’s latest two games have also been postponed, creating a potential crippling fixture backlog for the league.
Walmsley added: “We’ve got to make sure games are going ahead.
“It is obviously tough and rates are rising but we have got to be careful as players.
“We do not want to see any more fixtures getting called off for the good of the game.”
Saints have been able to freshen up players because of their unexpected breaks.
Injury-hit Wigan however have been doing it tough, with short turnarounds between games.
Centre Oliver Gildart said: “It’s poorly organised. We got rid of Easter Weekend (double fixtures) and added three more in which is a bit ridiculous. As a player looking out for team-mates I think it could be set up better.”