Jon Wilkin left confused by “strange situation” that led to key St Helens try

St Helens have responded to questions raised of the Champions early season by defeating the table topping Warrington Wolves.

It was clear early that Warrington wanted to test St Helens’ edge defence but as they did Konrad Hurrell came up with a neat intercept and stormed away for the opening try.

Then, after a bizarre moment when Matt Dufty stole the ball from Will Hopoate and then gave it back to him, Jonny Lomax wrong footed Danny Walker to slice through.

It was this moment that left Bill Arthur and Jon Wilkin confused.

“Hopoate loses that ball and Dufty not exactly sure what is going on there because the ball came out for a moment,” Arthur said.

Wilkin then added: “We see with Hopoate, it is a strange situation because Dufty steals the ball off him and tries to give him it back which is very nice of him and then Saints play the ball like nothing has happened.”

Hopoate then made it three tries in a matter of minutes. The Saints took a 16-0 lead when a lovely Jack Welsby grubber kick was perfectly weighted for Hopoate to ground it.

The Wolves then suddenly stepped up the gears after Peter Mata’utia and Sam Kasiano came on. On the back of a now rolling pack, a lovely Matt Dufty ball set Matty Russell up for a superb finish in the corner.

The Saints started the first half strongly and they did so in the second with a sweeping move left with Jon Bennison tip toeing down the wing and beating fullback Matt Dufty with a lovely dummy.

Tee Ritson came in for Tommy Makinson tonight and showed his class throughout and he wrapped it up at the end taking Konrad Hurrell’s lovely pass to produce a lovely nimble finish in the corner.

That wrapped up a 28-6 win.