St Helens head coach Paul Wellens picked out one player for specific praise after a “hard-fought” win over Wakefield Trinity.
Saints outscored their hosts four tries to one and added a couple of penalties as they won 26-6, shutting Trinity out in the second half as they asserted control on the game.
Their opening try was questioned by Daryl Powell but none of the others could be as Saints showed their class to make it three wins from three and set up an undefeated match between themselves and Hull KR in Round Four.
Both St Helens and Hull KR have faced the same three opponents so far with both easing past Salford, albeit Saints played their reserves, but the Red Vee have certainly made easier work of Castleford Tigers and today’s opponents Wakefield.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the win, Wellens noted just how difficult it can be to win at Belle Vue as he praised his players’ performance.
“Really pleased overall. This is a really difficult place to come,” he said.
“There’s bits of our performance that we need to improve on but I’m delighted we’ve come here and got a hard-fought two points.”
Paul Wellens hails St Helens’ ‘hard-fought’ win with key player picked for praise
👊 The Saints get the job done at the DIY Kitchens Stadium against Wakefield Trinity!
Three wins from three to start 2025 @SuperLeague #COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/u4SQPV92XX
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 1, 2025
One of the players who got on the scoresheet and ended up with the Man of the Match medal was 19-year-old Harry Robertson with the makeshift centre starting to cement that position as his own.
Asked about his performance, the St Helens boss said: “Young Harry is a joy to work with every day. He’s very talented and that’s clear to see but he’s got a real appetite to improve and that’s what I love about him the most.
“I had no hesitation in training him in the centres throughout the course of the pre-season and the longer he’s spent there, the more at home he has looked. Obviously, his preference is to play full-back but I think the experience he’s getting out there is invaluable for his development as a player.”
With Jack Welsby at full-back, it’s likely that Robertson will have to keep forging his way at centre but with five tries in three games, it’s a positional switch that is clearly working.
In fact, the St Helens’ attack in general is working a lot better with plenty attributing that to the addition of Lee Briers but Wellens noted the ‘environmental’ changes that have had an impact.
He explained: “We’ve made a lot of changes, not just on staff but in the player roster and environmentally and it’s having a real positive impact at the moment, however, the key for us is to keep moving forward together.
“There are going to be moments this year when we’re tested and we have to be prepared for that but so far, so good in 2025.”
The home test against Hull KR in six days time will likely be the first big test and one that will catch the eyes of all Super League fans.
