Rugby League: Paul Sculthorpe ruled out of his own testimonial match

Feb 2 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

ST HELENS captain Paul Sculthorpe has been ruled out of his testimonial match against Wakefield at Knowsley Road today.

The 30-year-old former Great Britain skipper was hoping to make his comeback from an Achilles injury but the game has come too early in his rehabilitation. The decision to withdraw the loose forward from Saints’ only pre-season friendly was made by coach Daniel Anderson with an eye on next week’s opening Super League fixture at Hull KR.

“Whilst Scully has trained at a high level and with a high volume, it is my decision to pull him from his testimonial game as I require more team sessions before I consider him for selection,” said Anderson. “It is risk I am not willing to take as it is more important that Scully plays consecutive premiership matches in 2008.”

Sculthorpe has suffered an horrendous run of injuries over the last three years.

He recovered from major knee surgery to play a key role in St Helens’ World Club Challenge win over Brisbane 12 months ago but tore his Achilles in training on the eve the Challenge Cup quarter-final with Warrington last June and has not played since.

Anderson plans to field the rest of his Super League squad today with the excep-tion of prop Jason Cayless, who is still recovering from knee surgery.

Sculthorpe’s younger brother Danny is in the Wakefield team, along with half-back Jamie Rooney, who will have his first pre-season outing after recovering from recuperative surgery.

Wildcats coach John Kear includes close-season sign-ings Danny Brough, Scott Grix, Tony Martin, Brad Drew and Oliver Wilkes.

Meanwhile National League One club Widnes Vikings have signed 19-year-old second row forward Ben Kavanagh from Wigan and will give him his debut when they launch their defence of the Northern Rail Cup in tomorrow's group game at Blackpool.