St Helens drop overseas player as questions over future grow after snub

St Helens boss Paul Wellens has left Waqa Blake out of the squad for their must-win clash against Castleford Tigers. The overseas talent, who has endured a rollercoaster first season with the Saints, has not been included in the side named to face the Tigers despite featuring in the 21-man squad.

Blake has had a colourful season in the red vee, scoring 11 tries in 24 appearances for the club, but making some high-profile mistakes in the process. Last week saw him throw a forward pass from a set restart as the Saints were looking to overturn a deficit to Warrington Wolves.

His performances recently earned strong criticism from club legend Paul Sculthorpe, who said Blake "Strolls around the field without a care in the world."

With a number of players returning from injury for Saints this week, Wellens has decided to leave the Fijian out of the side, with Mark Percival and Sione Mata'utia selected in the centres. Jon Bennison has been given the nod on the wing ahead of Blake, with Tommy Makinson on the other edge.

It adds to the uncertainty surrounding his future at the club, with his one-year deal set to expire at the end of the season. At least one of the club's overseas players will still need to depart to make way for Kyle Feldt and Tristan Sailor, though Konrad Hurrell is also off-contract at the end of the year. Mata'utia has already announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Elsewhere, Jack Welsby will start after a successful return last week, while Saints have already been boosted by the returns of James Bell and Daryl Clark, who have both been named on the bench. Blake wasn't even named as 18th man, with Ben Davies preferred.

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