Jamie Foster column

Last year’s Magic Weekend game against Huddersfield was a bit of a disaster, and it is something I have thought about in the build-up to Sunday’s game.

We didn’t perform as a team and it was probably a decision that I look back on and realise I definitely shouldn’t have played due to my pectoral injury.

I tried to play with my heart rather than my head because I was told I would be out for 12 weeks, and then tried to play after about three and a half.

Even in the warm-up, I was struggling and I remember looking at the big screen after 40 seconds after being tackled by Leroy Cudjoe and thinking ‘Oh my God, this is going to be a long day’.

It was like playing with one arm, and obviously the performance reflected that the team were carrying a person.

I was ineffective and, if selected, I want to make up for that last year because it’s a big stage and something our players are looking forward to.

We are going to have to raise our game considerably this week from the St Helens performance if we are to beat Huddersfield.

Losing both our half-backs last week – Brett Kearney sustained a thumb injury the week before against Warrington and Luke Gale pulled out on the morning of the game – was very tricky.

I think if you took Luke Walsh and Jonny Lomax out of the Saints team then they would struggle.

BK is one of our biggest go-to players and Galey our main organiser, so to be without them meant we had to reshuffle things massively.

It was going to be tough anyway, but to be without two of our best players made it almost impossible.

I read on Thursday morning that we have signed Jordan Baldwinson and Mason Tonks. There hadn’t been any talk around training about it beforehand but it’s obviously good news and bolsters the squad.

Hopefully they will fit straight in and come into contention to face Catalan Dragons next week.

We need as many numbers as possible, and if these two lads are hungry, and they seem to have a very good pedigree, then it can only benefit us. I’m looking forward to playing with them.