Lussick’s calling for backlash
Today, 1pm
JOEY LUSSICK says St Helens are still smarting from last Sunday’s shock defeat by Salford – and he wants Castleford to feel the backlash today.
Champions Saints suffered an embarrassing 44-12 thrashing by the Red Devils, Lussick’s old club.
The week before it took a golden-point extra-time winner to see off relegationhaunted Wakefield.
And at last month’s
Magic Weekend, Saints needed to dig out a late try to beat title rivals Wigan.
It’s a shaky run that has yet to shift them off top spot but Lussick fears Saints had better quickly learn lessons from it.
The hooker said: “It wasn’t the best performance from us against Salford but give them credit where it’s due – they were really good.
“We were miles off, and it does give us a kick up the backside. It reiterates that anybody can beat anyone in Super League.”
Matt Peet, boss of second-placed Wigan, has already conceded defeat to Saints in the race for the League Leaders Shield.
But Lussick, whose side stood four points clear with six games to go, before yesterday’s fixtures, knows the battle is far from over.
He said: “It’s definitely not. You’ve got to be on your game every week, or you get it handed to you. We’ve got a big game against Castleford and we’ve still to face Wigan.
“But every game is going to be big, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing. Every team has something to play for, whether that’s to get away from relegation, to get into the play-offs or to fight for the League Leaders Shield.”
Tommy Makinson and Dan Norman return from injury but Regan Grace and Agnatius Paasi join a lengthy injury list.
Castleford are boosted by the returns of Gareth O’brien and Alex Mellor from injury and Cheyse Blair from suspension.