St Helens head coach Paul Rowley has previewed the club’s huge Challenge Cup clash against Wigan Warriors, airing caution over returning players and insisting that his side must treat the week the same as any other.
Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Rowley admitted: “It’s such a boring narrative to say ‘it’s just like any other week’ but that’s how we’ve got to treat it.”
He did also concede that it’s a huge opportunity to showcase the sport, with the game aired live on the BBC, as he said: “You’re quite right that for the game it’s magical, it’s fantastic, it’s massive and we need to make a song and dance about it and showcase our very best to the country.”
Whilst some have questioned if the cup still retains it’s magic in the 21st century, Rowley was clear it still remains: “Growing up in my era, before the Grand Final was even born or thought about, the Challenge Cup was the one thing that young lads went to bed and dreamt about. I’m not so much a young lad anymore but I still have that dream.
“It was magical and still is, very much for me (the magic) is still alive and kicking.”
It’s been a fairly magical start to life at St Helens for Rowley with the Red Vee flying high despite a major injury crisis affecting them early in the campaign and when asked about his start at the club, the ex-Salford coach expressed modesty.
“We’re alright, we don’t talk about it a lot but we’ve got the runs on the board,” he said, adding: “Where we’re sat is good and healthy and it gives us an opportunity to be the master of our own destiny at the business end of the year.
“As we approach halfway, we’re content and reasonably happy but we understand that there is a lot more to come from us as a club and as a team but we know we’ll face sterner challenges as it begins to heat up.”
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No headaches for St Helens boss
As for Saturday’s semi-final, Rowley addressed the obvious in that it’s Wigan versus Saints, a derby battle that he has already come out on top of once already.
He said: “There’s a rivalry that is deep-rooted and a passion and respect, and lots of different ingredients that make it as big a game as you could possibly have. We understand what it means to the towns and supporters and we’re embracing it.”
St Helens were without some key players for that first derby but Paul Rowley now has plenty of bodies back, however, he conceded that those players can’t be expected to be fully firing just yet as he tempered expectations.
Rowley said: “They’re trickling back, we’re down to single numbers in that respect but it’s important to temper expectations when people have been out for three months or so.
“They’re not going to come back in and be match-ready so to speak so we’ve got to be really selective and cautious in how we’re selecting our team, so we’ve got a bit to think about.”
One key position he will have to think about is full-back with Jack Welsby now back in the mix but replacement Tristan Sailor has been exceptional. When asked about the potential of that being a headache, Rowley dismissed the notion: “They’re not headaches, they’re good options. We’re alright.
“You can’t bemoan the lack of players and then bemoan too many players and too many choices. We’d rather have the second option.”
