St Helens are looking strong, says Sia Soliola

Kiwi international Sia Soliola had an injury-hit first season with St Helens

St Helens centre Sia Soliola says his side have a stronger squad for the 2011 season than the team who finished last term as Super League runners-up.

"We're looking really strong. I'm happy with recruitment this year," Soliola told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"Last year I was the only new player, but we've got four or five new guys.

"We're in a good state at the moment. We just need to gel together and we need to be patient with the new guys and the new coach too."

As well as new coach Royce Simmons, Saints have bought in Castleford's young England centre Michael Shenton, Harlequins forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Australian prop Josh Perry.

But, while Perry and scrum-half Kyle Eastmond both look set to miss the start of the season with ankle injuries, Shenton should be fit following minor surgery on his own ankle injury.

And it will be like having a new player back in Soliola.

The 24-year-old New Zealand international made just three Super League starts last season, after spending six months out due to a knee ligament injury.

Soliola, who did return in time for the play-offs, was not the only player to suffer from injury last season. And the former Sydney Roosters man hopes his side enjoy better luck in 2011.

"Everybody has been talking about the injuries that we've had over the past year," added Soliola. "But everything's got to come right and our timing has got to be perfect.

"We're in a strong position at the moment. And when we start gelling it's going to be sensational. But we don't want to get ahead of ourselves."