Jon Wilkin slams St Helens’ ‘dumb’ attack after Hull KR loss

Former St Helens captain Jon Wilkin has called out the club’s “dumb” attacking tactics in their 20-10 home defeat at the hands of Hull KR.

It was a battle between first and second on Friday night at the Totally Wicked Stadium and it was Hull KR who came out on top to remain the only unbeaten side in Super League.

That win was based on strangling Paul Wellens‘ side with their dominant defence whilst targeting the St Helens right edge offensively, with three of the four tries scored on that side.

After 20 minutes, a graphic produced by broadcasters Sky Sports revealed that Hull KR had 15 play the balls in the St Helens 20 compared to just one for the Red Vee, underlining that dominance.

Former Saints captain Jon Wilkin argued post match why that is as he critiqued his former club’s attack, labelling it both “dumb” and “stupid”.

Wilkin argued: “They only play when they get into good ball so the only time the halves step up and play is when they’re 20 metres from the opposition line.

“Now they had one play the ball in the opposition 20 metres (in the first half) so they don’t play any rugby.

“If you’re in Super League and you expect to run through Hull KR with one out carries from Alex Walmsley and from Mark Percival, that they’ve been doing for six years, and you expect it to work then it’s dumb and it’s stupid.”

Jon Wilkin blasts St Helens’ attack after Hull KR loss

⏹ The Saints suffer their first defeat of the 2025 Super League season#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/GTs3Svk6tK

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 7, 2025

That impassioned rant garnered laughs from fellow pundit Jodie Cunningham but Wilkin doubled down and demanded more offence to be based around loose forward Morgan Knowles,.

Wilkin stated: “You’re laughing but it doesn’t work and what they need to do is if they’ve got Morgan Knowles who can ball play then stop playing like a prop and get some shape around you.”

That lack of shape was evident late on when a fatigued Saints side struggled to create despite trailing and being in desperate need of points.

Wilkin stated: “I know they’re all tired, I know they’re all gassed but with eight minutes left and ten points down, they had nine players who didn’t get behind the ball till play three. How can you throw any shape? You can’t throw any shape at anybody to score any points.

“It’s a different mentality. It’s defence first, everything else goes last and I find it frustrating to watch.”

After recruiting Tristan Sailor and also bringing over Lee Briers as an attacking coach there was hope that St Helens would find a way to make their attack click in 2025, something that seemed to be the case in the opening three rounds.

However, against a resolute Hull KR defence which Wilkin labelled “exquisite”, Saints were found lacking and the Sky Sports pundit argued that it was a cae of them reverting to type.

He explained: “When Saints were battling their attack last year, in pressurised games you revert to type and something that’s comfortable for you. For Jonny Lomax, for the guys who have been here a long time, reverting to that toughness, directness is great but it doesn’t work against good defensive teams.”

St Helens will face another tough team in the Challenge Cup next week when they take on Leeds Rhinos.