St Helens

Quote: Barbed Wire "Really happy with the win, but lots to work on. In the spell while it was 4-0/6-4 we were under a lot of pressure. Scrambled well, but still leaked a lot of meters. Thankfully Hurrell and Sironen blew chances to put the wingers into space, but it could have been a momentum shift. Instead we rode the wave and found a way to create our own momentum.

We desperately need Vaughan back. Stating the obvious, I know. But when Harrison went off we lost a lot of control. And Philbin too, to his credit.

Hayes did his best kicking from deep, and got us out of trouble a few times. Really like how he has just taken that responsibility on for himself, no hiding behind Williams. He, the club and the academy system should be really proud to see that he is earning his shirt over a time served halfback, who is also taking a quota spot. Still, come the back end of the season, he will have to do a little better to really put teams under pressure. But lots to like from him.

Lee Briers commented in the podcast on the BBC about learning when without players, finding a way to plug the gap and go without them, and then having the boost when they return to go up a gear. I think we need to build up to that, particularly with Currie, Musgrove and Vaughan. Those in the shirts need to (and so far, have) find a way for us to not notice they are missing and make the stars wrestle the shirt off their back. I’d love to see Vaughan sat on the bench at the weekend, reward the efforts of Crowther, Harrison and Philbin and get in his ear about earning his place back, think it would be a great signal to those in possession that they hold the cards if they want to start next week.'"

Crowther is looking a bit weak offensively, crumples when he hits the defensive wall and seems content not making any further metres. Defensively sound most of the time.