Paul Wellens has revealed how he motivated his St Helens side for the World Club Challenge tonight on Sky Sports.
The Saints were written off as they headed down under to take on Penrith Panthers and Wellens used this saying that British rugby league is ridiculed by Australians:
“There were two things that I spoke about before the game. The first was changing opinions. Rugby league on this side for too long and almost ridiculed at times from those in Australia.
“We wanted to go out there and changed opinions of those who see us that way over there.”
His second point was touching and showed the class and emotion Wellens will bring as a coach.
He revealed: “The second one was the fact that as a club it was our 150th anniversary and over those 150 years we have had over 1200 play rugby for this club and you cast your mind back a long way.
“During that time we had players who went to a World War and never had a chance to play for the club again and if those players could come back and play one game in the history of St Helens in those 150 years, this might just be the game that they would choose.
“So, let’s play for them, those players who once wore the shirt and never got the opportunity to do it again.”
