Loss of talisman forces Saints into Hooper gamble

St Helens, torn apart by injuries and poor form, will be without their talismanic Great Britain hooker Keiron Cunningham for Friday's world club challenge against Brisbane Broncos at Bolton.

Cunningham has a hip injury and with other key players missing Saints coach Daniel Anderson is ready to gamble on a loose forward whose season is virtually over.

Anderson revealed that Australian Jason Hooper, who has a recurring shoulder problem, will have stabilisation surgery on Saturday morning.

"Then he will be gone for six months which effectively means for the rest of the season," said Anderson on Tuesday night.

"But I have named him in my squad for Friday night because such is the unpredictability of his shoulder that he could last for one minute or eighty and he is prepared to play before he goes under the knife."

Hooper suffered a shoulder dislocation playing for Saints against Harlequins in their second Super League game of the season. The reigning champions lost, unexpectedly, as they did at Wakefield on Sunday.

Anderson insists he will not be tempted to gamble with the fitness of his captain Paul Sculthorpe, who has not played since a major knee operation last September.

"Scully has only had a couple of team sessions and he is not in my squad for Friday. He is due back in April. I have not totally given up hope on Cunningham but even if he played he would be less than 50 per cent.

"Maury Fa'asavalu has damaged medial ligaments and we have been told he will be out for three to four weeks. Even I will be surprised if he turns up on Friday.

"We have given a couple of uncharacteristic below-par performances and picked up some injuries. It never rains but it pours.

"But the players will want to get some pride back on Friday. It was always going to be difficult against a team of Brisbane's quality."

Brisbane, who lost an 18-0 lead to Saints in a second-half blizzard at Bolton six years ago, will start firm favourites.

Coach Wayne Bennett was confident enough yesterday to name his starting line-up which will be captained by Golden Boot winner Darren Lockyer. The Broncos are missing three of the side that won the NRL Grand Final, Shane Webcke having retired, Casey McGuire moved on to Catalans and David Stagg out injured.

BRISBANE: Hunt; Boyd, Tate, Hodges, Michaels; Lockyer (Capt), Perry; Carlaw, Berrigan, Civoniceva, Parker, Thorn, Carroll. Subs: Thaiday, Eastwood, Hannant, Ennis.