Daniel Anderson has eye on dangerous Dragons

Jun 20 2008 by Ian Laybourn, Liverpool Daily Post

ST HELENS can close the gap on engage Super League leaders Leeds to just two points when they take on the champions tonight – but coach Daniel Anderson is more worried about losing third place to Catalans Dragons.

The Rhinos, who were six points clear at the halfway stage, suddenly look within reach after slipping to a surprise 28-24 defeat at Harlequins last Saturday.

Saints are the form team after putting together a run of 10 straight wins in all matches but, instead of eyeing top spot, Anderson is looking over his shoulder at the Frenchmen.

The Dragons have taken 21 points from their last 12 matches – their only defeat was at Knowsley Road last month – and they will leapfrog St Helens into second place if Anderson’s men lose at Headingley and they beat Warrington in Perpignan tomorrow night.

“I don’t care about who’s in front of us, I want to get rid of Catalans, who are on our tail,” said Anderson. “They are as big a danger as anyone in front of us. They have been very, very good this year and they are winning games week in, week out.

“I’m not concerned about first place at the end of the Premiership, I’m just concerned about winning games. Our goal is a top-two position.”

A Leeds win tonight would effectively clinch them a first-place finish, while the eagerly-awaited clash is also a rehearsal for next month’s Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final at Huddersfield.

St Helens, who will be looking to avenge last October’s Grand Final thrashing and a 14-10 home defeat by the Rhinos in March, are hoping to have classy centre Matt Gidley back after he missed their 58-20 win over Bradford last Friday with a groin injury.

Great Britain winger Ade Gardner will also be anxious for the return of his centre partner as he goes head to head with Australian Scott Donald, who is just one try behind him in the Super League scoring chart.

“Gidley trained yesterday for the first time in 10 days and we’re very hopeful,” said Anderson. “We’ll see how he pulls up. He’s been exceptional this year for us. He brings a lot of confidence to the people around him because he’s a very good defensive player as well. We missed him last week.”

Donald, who has scored 17 tries in his 17 league games this year, has played in every minute of every game since joining the Rhinos from Manly Sea Eagles at the start of the 2006 season and will equal Francis Cummins’ mark of 87 consecutive starts.

The record is held by Carl Gibson, who made 91 appearances from 1988-90 when a bought of food poisoning ended his run.

Saints are still without forwards Nick Fozzard, Mike Bennett, Chris Flannery and Jason Cayless and, with young prop Gareth Frodsham sidelined with an injured toe, there will be a third bench spot for Sam Thompson, a 21-year-old bricklayer.

Anderson has also included in his initial squad youngsters Andrew Dixon and Shaun Magennis, who were yesterday named in a 22-strong party for the England Academy tour to Australia next month.

“We’ve got a little bit of inexperience on our bench,” said Anderson. “We need our big players to stand up and our inexperienced players just to do their job.”