The Grand Final awaits, Saturday night will see Champions St Helens chase a fourth consecutive Super League title in what will be coach Kristian Woolf’s final game with the Saints.
A win would also make him the first coach in Super League history to win three consecutive Grand Finals as the Saints look to win a record ninth Grand Final win, a 10th Super League title in their 14th Grand Final appearance.
It would be the ideal send off for a coach who has had a real impact on St Helens and Super League. No doubt set to be an emotional night for Woolf, he thanked the fans for the way they’ve supported his team but more importantly his family over the last few years as he takes on a new challenge with The Dolphins in the NRL.
“Outstanding, the fans here are great,” Woolf said, “The way they support the team, when the going got tough and they start singing songs that lifts everyone.
“I can’t thank the fans enough the way they’ve supported me and my family.”
He also highlighted how his side have done things differently in 2022 in the face of some real adversity.
The Saints have been one of the teams worst hit by injuries this year with Tommy Makinson, Will Hopoate, Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley and Sione Mata’utia among those who have faced long spells on the sidelines.
This has seen Saints continually have to chop and change their side in a departure from the settled side they’ve had when winning the title in the three previous seasons.
Woolf opened up on this after victory against Salford: “We’ve had to do it different this year. We’ve had to deal with so many players unavailable doing training sessions with 16, 17 men at the minute and naming just 20.
“We’ve got the class to beat anyone and the toughness and resilience to stay in the fight.”
Woolf will be hoping that last remark rings true at Old Trafford against Leeds.
