AFTER playing and scoring in every game in 2018, there is probably a mixed blessing in Danny Richardson being kept out of the England Knights tour to Papua New Guinea after sustaining a groin tear in the semi-final defeat.

Having taken the number seven shirt off Matty Smith, Richardson never looked like being displaced.

But a strong off-season, off the back of a four-week rest period, may do the young marksman the power of good.

Saints boss Justin Holbrook said: “Danny is a good young player whose overall season has been great.

“To come into the year as a 21-year-old, he will look back at his overall season and be happy, getting a call to England Knights and the Dream Team.

“The end of season probably showed on him, his first full season and he is the only player who played every single game.

“He will get good experience off that but his last third probably tested him more than the first two thirds.

“Off a big season like we have had, it is always good for young guys to get some rest and a good pre-season rather than more games.”

Richardson himself expressed his disappointment that he won’t be joining Matty Lees on the tour the rugby league-obsessed Papua New Guinea.

“I’m gutted that I won’t get the chance to represent the Knights in PNG,” he said.

“It has been a crazy season for me with plenty of ups and downs but it is important I get myself right for pre-season.

“I want to continue to work hard and improve for next year.”

Apart from Lees, plus the four in the senior test team - Mark Percival, Tommy Makinson, Luke Thompson and Jonny Lomax ­— Saints have Theo Fages in the French team and James Bentley playing for Ireland.

However, Morgan Knowles and Regan Grace are not going to play for Wales this autumn, and will rest instead after playing two years, back-to-back, with the World Cup in between.

Knowles has had another strong year, showing his versatility in playing loose forward, second row and hooker.

And wing Grace, too, grew into the season with a more all-round robustness to his game to complement his pace.

Holbrook said: “I thought Regan got better as the season went on this year.

“He started a bit slow off the back of his World Cup and for such a young guy to play the way he has.

“He has done a great job he is getting a bit stronger and to get more aggression in him would be good.”