St Helens v Warrington preview
Warrington captain Joel Monaghan insists there are no hard feelings as he prepares for his final appearance for the Wolves in Thursday's Super League derby at St Helens.
The 33-year-old former Australia Test winger is being released by Warrington despite having a year left on his contract as coach Tony Smith re-builds his squad following a disappointing season in which they failed to make the top four.
Thursday's opponents, the reigning Super League champions, however, still have it all to play for. Sitting fourth in the Super 8s table, Saints can briefly go top by defeating the Wolves, and have a play-offs semi-final ahead of them.
Monaghan, who moved to Super League from Canberra five years ago, took his staggering try tally for the club to 144 in 144 appearances with a hat-trick in last week's 48-6 win over Catalans Dragons - his final appearance at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
"I couldn't have asked for a better finish at the HJ," he said.
"Last week was about the fans, this game is about one last battle with the boys and hopefully I can go out on top."
Monaghan, who was expected to lose his place to new signing Tom Lineham next season, believes he still has two years left in Super League but has yet to find another club. He nevertheless backed the club's decision to axe him.
"It was a shock but I could see it was a business decision," Monaghan said. "Being a winger on the wrong side of 30, I'd say it was a very smart piece of business.
"I always said I'm willing to do whatever is best for this club. This year has proved we need to strengthen up. We weren't good enough but the signings we've made so far, it's going to be positive for the club.
"I could have been bitter but I thought about it and just enjoying the last few weeks with the boys. As long as this club is succeeding, I'll be happy."
Monaghan saw injury force his older brother Michael to retire with Warrington at the end of last season and hopes to determine his own retirement date.
"I've definitely got a couple of years left in me," he said. "Being a winger probably helps.
"I'd like to finish my career over here. I've enjoyed playing here. I have a few options."
Saints, meanwhile, insist they are focused on one game at a time.
Winger Tommy Makinson said: "There are so many outcomes from this game and so many ways the top four could finish.
"But that's not our worry. We simply have to put out the best performance we can and then see where we finish. From there it is play-off footy."
St Helens squad: Tommy Makinson, Jordan Turner, Josh Jones, Adam Swift, Luke Walsh, Mose Masoe, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Atelea Vea, Jon Wilkin, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Mark Flanagan, Mark Percival, Luke Thompson, Greg Richards, Joe Greenwood, Matty Dawson, Andre Savelio, Adam Quinlan.
Warrington squad: Ryan Atkins, Joel Monaghan, Stefan Ratchford, Richie Myler, Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison, Roy Asotasi, Ben Currie, Gareth O'Brien, Kevin Penny, Brad Dwyer, Joe Philbin, George King, Sam Wilde, Chris Sandow, Jack Johnson.
