St Helens backed up their World Club Challenge win last week with a Super League victory to start the defence of their title against the Castleford Tigers.
They led 12-0 in the second half but the Tigers got themselves back into the game with a penalty try as Jack Broadbent headed for the corner but was tackled high by Jack Welsby.
Welsby admitted after the game on Channel 4 that he was concerned that there would be a yellow card for him.
He said on Channel 4: “I was glad not to see the yellow card come out, but I was disappointed to see them get a try under the sticks. I did my best.”
Welsby also revealed his thoughts behind the play that led to St Helens’ second try throwing a little shade at teammate Konrad Hurrell:
“Konnie is a good ball carrier but sometimes he needs to be told what to do so I’ve seen a late retreater and I thought it could be some easy metres. We never look for a try in that situation.”
Teammate Alex Walmsley meanwhile emphasised his pride at the result:
“Really proud today, I think there was an expectation that we wouldn’t be at it today so we wanted to lay down a marker. It is a new competition and we want to win it.
“They came to play, it wasn’t easy, it was always going to be a tough challenge. It was about backing up from last week.
“We have a target on our back, that has been the same for the last few years. Nothing new to us.”
He then said he was pretty tired after the long journey back from Australia:
“Pretty tired, it was great but we want to put that to the back and focus on that. We had a chaotic journey home so we have been really tough today.”
When asked about the cut on his ear, he said: “I was never cut out for modelling anyway.”
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