St Helens should be targeting eight points from their next five games as they bid to bounce back from defeat against Leigh Leopards on Thursday night. That’s the belief of Sky Sports pundit and former St Helens man Jon Wilkin, who admits he does have some concerns about the club’s lack of energy in attack.
The Saints tasted defeat for the first time in six games on Thursday evening as they lost 16-4 to Leigh. The Leopards were the better side but St Helens gave as good as they got for large periods with two lapses in concentration resulting in the decisive tries Leigh scored.
The result means Paul Wellens’ side will drop down to fifth if Leeds Rhinos beat Salford Red Devils as expected this evening, and they could find themselves just four points above the battle for sixth place by the end of the weekend, depending on results elsewhere.
The Saints know they must bounce back quickly then and they have the opportunity to over the next weeks with games coming up against Castleford Tigers, Wakefield Trinity, Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC.
Win all four of those games and St Helens will be sitting pretty in the play-offs with something of a base built heading into clashes with Hull KR, Wigan Warriors and Leigh once more in the final few rounds of the campaign.
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“They need eight points from their next five games,” Wilkin said on Sky Sports when assessing Saints’ chances of being able to find success this season. “When they get to Hull KR we’ll see where they are but they need to win their next four. Not need to, but if they win their next four they’re in a position then, aren’t they?
“This isn’t a massive step back for St Helens, it’s not like crisis, for me. That’s a high quality game of rugby.”
On the club’s lack of attacking prowess, Wilkin added: “I’m concerned to a point but they frontload so much energy into defence, it doesn’t leave much energy in the tank for attack. There’s a balance to be had there. I firmly believe effort is great but they need keep something back.”
