Paul Wellens has his say on Morgan Knowles appeal

Yesterday St Helens made it three wins from their first five league games to start the season by defeating a side many believe could challenge them for the Super League title.

They came away 14-12 in a game without one of their star forwards in the shape of the suspended Morgan Knowles who copped a ban for a late hit last week.

The Champions tried to appeal the decision but failed.

That said, coach Paul Wellens had no qualms with the hearing itself.

“No I’m not surprised, I thought we had a fair hearing,” Wellens said on Sky Sports.

“We went there with a case to argue and we put our points across. I thought the panel deliberated long and hard and came back with a decision which we accept.”

He also had his say on Saints’ start to the season:

“I wouldn’t say pass or fail, I think obviously it’s just a journey that we’re going on again and it’s a different journey.

“We’re really excited about what lies ahead and it’s a tough game tonight, nothing comes easy here.”

Meanwhile, on Saints TV he confirmed that the Champions had lost forward Jake Wingfield for a couple of weeks to injury.

Opposite number Ian Watson meanwhile gave his assessment of where Jake Connor, who made his debut last night, will play:

“I see him as a six at the moment, it’s exciting to get him out their first. We’ve put him under no pressure, we just want him to go out and be himself and figure out where he sits with us.

“With the operation he’s had on his knee and trying to build his fitness, he probably isn’t going to be at the level to play full-back yet so six is where we’ll focus at this moment in time.

“We’ve been told that he’s more than physically ready for 40 minutes, maybe a little bit more, but we’ll assess that as the game is going.”