Paul Rowley praises “amazing effort” from team singling out “coach’s dream” ex-Leeds Rhinos man Kallum Watkins

There’ll be few men happier than Paul Rowley tonight.

His team produced not just their best performance of the season, but perhaps Super League’s best performance of the season to defeat Champions St Helens 44-12.

The Red Devils led 26-0 at the break as the likes of Kallum Watkins, Tim Lafai and Joe Burgess all shone.

It was a result that caught everyone by surprise and after the game Rowley described it as “an amazing effort” revealing how tough it has been for the Red Devils down to just 18 players.

“It was an amazing effort. We deserved that, we’ve had 18 players and our 18th man was jabbed up for the warm-up. I couldn’t be prouder,” Rowley said after the game, “We scored some fantastic tries. That Sio, Sarginson, Lafai transition that finished with Croft, was the best you’ll see this season.”

He also specifically picked out the brilliant Tim Lafai who helped create plenty of tries blending power and his offloads together to devastate the Saints.

He received a standing ovation as well as praise from his coach after the game: “You don’t get them performances too often. He was a real highlight.”

Rowley also praised former Leeds man Kallum Watkins who crossed for a brace. He described him as “an agile athlete, with the work ethic and character that he’s got, is a coach’s dream.”

The Red Devils’ next game is against Watkins’ former side at Headingley with the winner potentially set for a spot in the top six depending on Hull FC’s trip to Huddersfield earlier in the weekend.