ESL ESL St Helens - General News - Gossip etc

[S J]

Josh Jones scored a late try as St Helens came from behind to beat Wigan and move to within a point of Super League's top spot.

Wigan went ahead through Joel Tomkins's try before Luke Walsh replied in an intense first half that ended 6-6.

George Williams scored a fantastic solo try for Wigan, but Adam Swift danced in to reduce the deficit to two points.

Jon Wilkin's high kick was collected by Jones three minutes from time to seal St Helens' comeback.

Saints' Jordan Turner was denied a 100th career try after an obstruction earlier in the play, and the visitors took full advantage.

A great piece of skill from Matty Smith set up Tomkins for his first try since June as he waltzed in under the posts, with Matty Bowen adding the extras.

St Helens hit back when a clever dummy by Walsh saw him sneak in and just ground the ball for his seventh try of the season. He converted to level the scores.

 

[moto748]

Good game. We were well on top of them in the second half, and should have hung on, being 14-12 up with three minutes to go. But Saints found a try, and a chance for the hub-cap may have been lost. Not for the first time this season, another wonderful solo try from George Williams, this lad should go far.

Q was good as usual for Saints, SJ.

 

[S J]

Good game. We were well on top of them in the second half, and should have hung on, being 14-12 up with three minutes to go. But Saints found a try, and a chance for the hub-cap may have been lost. Not for the first time this season, another wonderful solo try from George Williams, this lad should go far.

Q was good as usual for Saints, SJ.

Yes - he was a top young bloke - we just had no-where for him. Glad he's going well.

 

[S J]

St Helens have signed winger Jack Owens on a two-year-deal.

Owens, 21, scored nine tries in 18 games for the Vikings last season but was allowed to depart by head coach Denis Betts.

He crossed for 30 scores in 87 games during five years as a professional at Widnes, and is also a kicker with 122 goals to his name.

 

[S J]

Paul Wellens has taken up a player performance coach role at St Helens after his retirement.

He announced he was quitting playing in June because of a hip injury and was told he would take up a coaching position which is now confirmed.

The 35-year-old has taken up an assistant coach role with England but will mainly work with Saints Academy.

 

[S J]

St Helens coach Keiron ningham has extended his deal until the end of 2018.
ningham, 39, led Saints to the semi-finals of both the Challenge Cup and Super League play-offs in his first season in charge.
He spent his entire playing career with his hometown team before moving onto the coaching staff in 2010.
"Keiron is a young, talented and ambitious British coach," said chairman Eamonn McManus.

 

[S J]

Ben Barba - might get them going.

 

[moto748]

They got going all right last week. I'll be there tomorrow night.

 

[S J]

BEN Barba has continued his fantastic form for St Helens, helping the Super League club to a 36-18 win over Castleford in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup with a hat-trick of tries.

 

[S J]

York City's second rower Joe Batchelor has signed a three-year contract.

 

[S J]

I feel the purchase of Lachlan Coote for 3 years could be a very useful buy. He'll fit the ESL quite well.

 

[moto748]

Wish we had him! Instead of Zak Hardaker...

 

[S J]

Tommy Makinson staying put.

 

[S J]

Wigan Warriors' defence of their Super League title began with a 22-12 loss at rivals St Helens in a pulsating derby.

12 nil - then 12 all. A strange start. Saints looked so good then seemed to have no defence.

 

[S J]

St Helens: Coote; Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace; Lomax, Fages; Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, Taia, Peyroux, Knowles.
Interchanges: Paulo, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Lees.

Wigan: Hardaker; Davies, Sarginson, Gildart, Marshall; Williams, Leuluai; Flower, Powell, Navarrete, Greenwood, Farrell, O'Loughlin
Interchanges: Isa, Hamlin, Clubb, Bullock.

Referee: Robert Hicks

Coote had a funny game - throwing an intercept. But will only get better.

 

[moto748]

W
Saints looked so good then seemed to have no defence.

We must have watched different games. Saints defended well, and only an interception try kept the score respectable as far as Wigan were concerned. Despite having their fair share of the ball, Wigan failed to score a point in the second half.

 

[stanleyg]

We must have watched different games. Saints defended well, and only an interception try kept the score respectable as far as Wigan were concerned. Despite having their fair share of the ball, Wigan failed to score a point in the second half.

wonder if Saints want Barba back?

 

[S J]

We must have watched different games. Saints defended well, and only an interception try kept the score respectable as far as Wigan were concerned. Despite having their fair share of the ball, Wigan failed to score a point in the second half.

Well - they had and lost a 12 point lead. At one point Wigan - first half - were running down the field and it looked like Saints were gone. They just ran over them. Then it changed again.

 

[moto748]

Yeah we were getting to their line OK, but we weren't posing enough threat when we got there. But early days, and plenty of time for improvement; it was the first game for a new coach, after all.

 

[S J]

Super League leaders St Helens made easy work of beating Castleford Tigers at Anfield as they restored their six-point lead at the top of the table. Saints quickly took control with first-half tries from Tommy Makinson, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax and Theo Fages. Grant Millington scored for Cas, while Jack Ashworth went in under the sticks to extend Saints' lead after half-time.

Lachlan Coote and Kevin Naiqama also crossed for Saints, with Chris Clarkson and Greg Eden running in late replies.