ESL ESL St Helens - General News - Gossip etc

[S J]

The 2014 Super League Grand Final will probably be best remembered for Ben Flower's red card, rather than St Helens ending an eight-year wait for a domestic title.

After Wigan prop Flower was sent off for punching Lance Hohaia in the opening minutes, an offence for which he later received a six-month suspension, tries from Sia Soliola and Tommy Makinson helped Saints win rugby league's showpiece event for the first time since 2006.

Having lost five consecutive finals between 2007 and 2011, it was a long-awaited victory.

Only four teams in the Super League era have returned to Old Trafford and retained their title - St Helens (2000) and Leeds Rhinos (2008, 2009, 2012).

 

[S J]

Good win against Catalan.

Can't believe how off side they all stand. Some were metres off side at almost every play. Especially out wide.

That lock for ST H puts in a bit.

 

[moto748]

Can't believe how off side they all stand. Some were metres off side at almost every play. Especially out wide.

Didn't see the game, but heard a lot of comments about that from people who did.

 

[S J]

Didn't see the game, but heard a lot of comments about that from people who did.

I enjoyed it but that was an issue. He actually put a St H player in the bin for repeated infringements. I'd love to get to a game though.

 

[S J]

St Helens run in 10 tries to blow away a disappointing Salford Red Devils in a 52-6 Super League victory.

Looked a bit of a walk over on TV. Will be a top game against the Bunnies.

 

[S J]

Winger Tommy Makinson puts pen to paper on a new four-year contract with Super League champions St Helens.

 

[moto748]

Did you see the whole game against Salford, SJ? They were really woeful.

 

[S J]

Did you see the whole game against Salford, SJ? They were really woeful.

Moto - I think Saints a had a full on trial against Salford before their game with ST H. I do see many of the games that are shown here - but not sure on this one.

Keiron ningham has ruled out 'panic' changes after the Souths game. Just one of those thing.

 

[S J]

St Helens recover from their World Club Challenge defeat to overcome Castleford 21-14 and keep their unbeaten run in Super League 2015.

 

[moto748]

They didn't have to be great; Cas don't look the side they were last season, and even though Saints got the rub of the green (Cas had one good try disallowed), they did plenty enough to win.

 

[S J]

St Helens captain Jon Wilkin agrees a one-year contract extension until 2016 with the Super League champions.

 

[S J]

St Helens half-back Lance Hohaia hints at a return to the NRL when his contract expires at the end of the season.

 

[S J]

St Helens prop Alex Walmsley rejects offers from the National Rugby League to sign a new three-and-a-half-year contract.

 

[moto748]

I would have said, would anyone in the NR:L want Hohaia, but a few returnees who I'd have thought past their sell-by date apparently having no problem finding berths, maybe not. He hasn't been able to even command a regular spot in the injury-hit Saints side...

 

[S J]

St Helens hammer bottom club Wakefield Wildcats to move within three points of Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos.

 

[S J]

Sad news that young Harrison Ledsham has passed away. We all send our thoughts to his family and friends at this difficult time. The photo of him with Greg Inglis at the World Club Challenge.

 

[S J]

St Helens profited from two blunders by Wigan's veteran fullback Matty Bowen to win an absorbing grand-final re-match to go top of the Super League.
Wigan led 10-8 at the break and Friday's game was locked at 14-14 when Joel Tomkins scored their third try on 50 minutes, but the champions finished strongly to claim a 30-14 victory and leapfrog Leeds at the top of the table.
All three of Saints' second-half tries were gifted by the visitors, two of them after former NRL star Bowen fumbled kicks from St Helens' captain Jon Wilkin, who shrugged off a head injury to lead his side's assault.
Hooker James Roby defied a hand injury to play the full 80 minutes.
Most eyes had been on Ben Flower as he faced St Helens for the first time since his dismissal in the opening moments of October's grand final for punching Lance Hohaia and the Welsh international prop shrugged off the boos to give Wigan a solid start with a series of strong runs.

 

[S J]

St Helens full-back Shannon McDonnell will miss the rest of the season because of an Achilles injury.

 

[S J]

Adam Quinlan will join Super League club St Helens on a short-term contract to ease their fullback crisis.
Saints have used six players in the fullback role this year, including former Newcastle and West Tigers custodian Shannon McDonnell who recently joined the club's lengthening injury list 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 and will link up with Saints as soon as he receives his visa.

Good buy - he has potential. Small but quick.

 

[moto748]

Better than McDonnell; I don't know why they went for him.