St Helens reclaimed fourth spot on the Super League ladder as they beat out Salford Red Devils 17-16 in golden point in a game that Paul Rowley has put down to ‘moments’ going the wrong way.
It was a match that St Helens head coach Paul Wellens described as attritional whilst Sky Sports pundit Jon Wells labelled it ‘playoff intensity’, with these two sides possibly set up for a playoff clash.
Golden point is always a rough way to lose and despite describing it as a “sickener”, Paul Rowley has come away with the positives from the game.
Speaking post-game on Sky Sports, Rowley stated: “The manner of the loss obviously is a sickener at that time but you learn lessons and as you say, our last two games have been playoff-type games and had that feel about it so it’s all good practice.”
If the season ended today then St Helens and Salford Red Devils would meet in the playoffs with Saints looking to level the scores after losing two of the three meetings between the sides this season.
St Helens edge the big moments in dramatic game
Credit: Imago Images
The margins are incredibly fine between victory and defeat in Super League, particularly this season where the playoff places are so tightly packed, but Paul Rowley was still able to pick out two key moments where his side perhaps lost the game.
“I’m very proud but we expect to win so we’re disappointed,” he told Jon Wells before highlighting two game-changing moments.
“The tackle on Deon there in the corner was a big moment and then obviously the full-back gets a 10-15 metre break to set them on a bit of a roll towards the drop ball territory.
“They’re moments but you win and lose on them and it’s good practice nonetheless so we go again and that’s what the game’s about. We have a remarkable knack for just bouncing back.”
Salford will head to Magic Weekend now where they will face Leigh Leopards but there will be no ‘crisis meeting’ despite the devastating loss.
Paul Rowley explained: “We don’t do crisis meetings, we learn lessons and we bounce back and everybody has a smile on their face, we’ll have a few days off now.
“Like I said, they put everything into that game like they do every game, so we treat every game exactly the same and we go to every game expecting to win and when we don’t, we’re disappointed. It’s no different really.
2 Comments
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
jaybs
August 9, 2024 at 10:39 am
Why? Why? with minutes to go in the second half, all lined up for a drop goal, which would have won the match! did the player not pass the ball to the player, waiting to covert the drop goal, game Won!
Poor refereeing again, so many incidents missed, and this is one of our top referees? when will laying on after a tackle be cut from our game, it is painful how some teams use this, as Saints did as always, and Kendall did nothing?
Dave Burrows
August 9, 2024 at 11:24 pm
How was that Salford try given video ref should be sacked