Australia’s Quinlan set for Saints debut

Unwanted Parramatta utility Adam Quinlan is set to make his Super League debut for St Helens in a home game against Huddersfield.

The 22-year-old has been recruited by the reigning champions on a short-term contract following the loss of Shannon McDonnell with a snapped Achilles tendon.

Quinlan, 22, joined the Eels from St George Illawarra at the start of the year but has since been playing for feeder club Wentworthville.

After arriving in England on Monday, Quinlan was named in coach Keiron Cunningham’s 19-man squad for Friday’s game.

Mark Percival became Saints’ sixth-choice fullback of the season but the arrival of Quinlan will allow him to revert to his customary centre spot.

St Helens skipper Jon Wilkin will sit out the game with a minor leg injury while Huddersfield will give a second appearance to 21-year-old prop Nathan Mason, who has been playing on dual-registration with League 1 club Oldham this year.

Mason, who made his Super League debut in an end-of-season game at Bradford two years ago, takes the place of front rower Anthony Mullally.

“Nathan has been playing well at Oldham,” said Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson.

“They’re not happy at losing him but he’s a Giants player and he’s got an opportunity.

“He’s been waiting long enough for it. We’ve been talking about people like Jake Connor, Josh Johnson and Nathan for a while and it’s starting to get to the point where we need to play them and they’re ready to play.

“I’m confident in what Nathan is capable of achieving.”

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