Paul Wellens is hoping St Helens’ experience of playing in and winning play-off games will prove to be pivotal on Saturday night.
After finishing sixth in the Super League table, St Helens make the short journey down the M62 to the Halliwell Jones Stadium this weekend to take on Sam Burgess’ Warrington Wolves. The Saints haven’t fared well in games against sides in the top six of late, with a win over Salford Red Devils in August being their only result against a play-off side since beating Wigan Warriors in March.
However, it’s fair to say the Merseyside outfit know their way around play-off success, with the club winning four successive Grand Finals between 2019 and 2022. Of course, the core of Wellens’ side is relatively unchanged from the one that last won at Old Trafford and while Warrington have experience of knockout rugby league, too, the head coach believes his side have what it takes to rise to the occasion.
“I think it’s hugely important,” Wellens told Serious About RL about the club’s play-off knowhow. “A lot of players that not only have played in these games a number of times but enjoy playing in these games. That’s really important.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge, a sixth placed finish was certainly not what we wanted at the start of the year but the situation has been very different to what we’ve been accustomed to in recent seasons and we don’t shy away from the situation we’re in. We embrace it and we get excited about going to Warrington.”
St Helens made the journey to Warrington earlier this month, but failed to get over the tryline as they lost 16-2 on what was a frustrating day for the club. The Saints were without a raft of senior players that day, but Wellens believes they can still take lessons from that meeting going into Saturday.
“We can take a little bit from it,” he added. “I loved the way we competed in that game but we didn’t create enough opportunities. If you’re going to win big games opportunities are few and far between. Not only do you have to create them, you have to nail them as well.
“That’s one area of improvement for us but in big games against big opposition quite often these games are settled by fine margins, we’re going to have to really work hard to be in the fight.”
Wellens was speaking at the Super League media event earlier this week and he was joined by Matty Lees, who was in attendance to collect his Dream Team jersey after another strong season in the heart of Saints’ pack.
“It’s great recognition for Matty,” Wellens said. “He’s been unbelievable for us this year and in particular during those parts of the season where things were very tough and we had a lot of players on the sidelines.
“Matty was one of those carrying the can for us in difficult circumstances so we’re really proud of him as a club to get the recognition he deserves.
“He is a leader, very much so. He leads in a number of ways, he’s not someone that does a lot of talking but when he does his points very strong and his message lands with the group. As you see when he plays every week he leads by example so there’s a lot to like about him as a player and the way he leads is something he’s developed in recent years.”
