St Helens boss Paul Rowley has assessed his side’s nervy victory over Huddersfield Giants, as the side go top of Super League for at least the next 24 hours.
After a 24-0 lead at half-time, Saints lost the second half 18-2, in what was a disappointing collapse for the Red Vee, though they managed to just hold on to take the win.
Owen Dagnall, Harry Robertson, Lewis Murphy and George Delaney all crossed for tries, in what would turn out to just be enough to see them over the line.
The Red Vee needed a response following their harrowing defeat to Wigan Warriors last time out, and the first-half looked like it would be comfortable, however their second 40 let them down.
Assessing the game, Rowley said: “Before we got here today, the main priority was making sure we just got a win and get back on the horse.
“After the first half, and a commanding lead, then we obviously wanted to kick on, but we sensed a little bit of worrying trends, getting a little bit sloppy towards the end of the second half.
“We sensed a little bit of worrying trends, getting a little bit sloppy towards the back end of the first half.
“There were other contributing factors, video referee decisions, challenges, which made the game awfully boring.
“It’s like a 10 to 10 finish, it’s not good on a school night, is it?”
The Saints boss was the latest head coach to bemoan the speed and the length that the game took, with four captain’s challenge calls in the second half making for an underwhelming contest.
“I guess it depends how many challenges there are and if they’re quick to be addressed. But they weren’t.
“I actually think the first one was incorrect, in my opinion. The Tristan Sailor tackled in the air one.
“It just didn’t have a good feel to it that second half, did it? There were a lot of stoppages and, yeah, it gets a bit boring, doesn’t it?”
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St Helens boss explains unused sub call
Jake Davies was an unused substitute in the game. He harshly missed out on selection last week against Wigan, and despite being named in the 17, didn’t take to the field.
On that call, Rowley said: “We’ve got players playing well in them positions.
“Jake is doing a fantastic job, and he’s learning, so we’ll manage him the way we know how to, and we’re happy with where that’s going.”
