It’s a week and one day since Paul Rowley left St Helens with his departure only exacerbating problems that only existed at the club, namely in the eyes of Jon Wilkin and Sam Tomkins, that the squad is nowhere near good enough for Saints’ standards.
Wilkin was part of a St Helens side that continually made it to finals, even losing five in a row, but that team also won silverware, something that Saints have not done since early 2023 in the World Club Challenge.
Since then, they’re yet to make a final and this year, they’re now in danger of not making the top six for the first time in their history, with Wilkin declaring his belief that they will lose that record.
Speaking last week on Sky Sports, Wilkin claimed that Saints will not have any ‘new coach bounce’, arguing: “The fans had asked for Paul Rowley to be removed, essentially, and the club felt they had to act and I don’t think we’re going to see a knock-on effect from now to the end of the season.
“Saints miss the play-offs. Saints don’t make the six for the first time in their history this year.”
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The problem with St Helens’ playing squad
The search for a new head coach is underway but for Sam Tomkins, the search for a new playing roster should also be taken just as seriously as he offered his verdict after the loss to Wigan Warriors.
Tomkins argued: “As well as looking for a coach, I think they need to have a real big recruitment drive because I think tonight showed they can get outclassed.”
Wilkin would agree, adding: “Jack Welsby is world class. Harry Robertson is potentially an international player.
“The young guys in there, respect, right? Coming in, (Jacob) Douglas, exceptional, came and had a great game. Davies, Jake Davies has had a great year. There’s a lot of shining bright lights of hope in the young kids’ department.
“With the lads who are not playing, if they’re all fit, they’re maybe fifth best in the league, the playing squad. Is that good enough for Saints? Even if all their star players are fit, I don’t think they’re better than a Leeds, a Wigan, a Wakefield, or Hull KR’s squads at the minute.”
That’s evident at the moment with Saints behind all four of those sides in the table, as well as Warrington and Leigh, and Tomkins suggested that the reason why was the club’s lack of quality in their middle-tier players, outside of stars or youngsters.
“I think squads are built up with three layers. You get your stars, you get your Jack Welsbys, you’ve got young kids coming through, and it’s that middle band for me,” Tomkins said.
“The guys that you expect are not going to go and get your man of the matches every week, but they’re certainly not going to lose your game.
“I think that middle bracket of players for St Helens isn’t a high enough standard to go and compete with the top sides.”
