St Helens have responded to questions raised of the Champions early season by defeating the table topping Warrington Wolves.
Highlights:
Hurrell intercept
It was clear early that Warrington wanted to test St Helens’ edge defence but as they did Konrad Hurrell came up with a neat intercept and stormed away for the opening try.
Lomax slices through
After a bizarre moment when Matt Dufty stole the ball from Will Hopoate and then gave it back to him, Jonny Lomax wrong footed Danny Walker to slice through.
Hopoate makes it three tries in a matter of minutes
The Saints took a 16-0 lead when a lovely Jack Welsby grubber kick was perfectly weighted for Hopoate to ground it.
Russell gets over
The Wolves then suddenly stepped up the gears after Peter Mata’utia and Sam Kasiano came on. On the back of a now rolling pack, a lovely Matt Dufty ball set Matty Russell up for a superb finish in the corner.
Bennison bags key try
The Saints started the first half strongly and they did so in the second with a sweeping move left with Jon Bennison tip toeing down the wing and beating fullback Matt Dufty with a lovely dummy.
Ritson gets deserved try
Tee Ritson came in for Tommy Makinson tonight and showed his class throughout and he wrapped it up at the end taking Konrad Hurrell’s lovely pass to produce a lovely nimble finish in the corner.
Talking Points:
Crisis? What crisis?
Anyone who thought there was a crisis at St Helens was reminded tonight that they are a Champion team who can physically dominate and be patient in games playing the territorial game.
Learning curve for Warrington
In the last two weeks Warrington have learnt some key lessons about what they will need to do to beat St Helens and Wigan to the Super League title.
Don’t forget Warrington’s absentees
A lot was made about St Helens’ absentees but playing with only three senior middle forwards in a side that has thrived off power in the middle is tough and has perhaps meant he haven’t seen an accurate reflection of where Warrington are compared to last year’s top two.
Lees the premier prop?
For a while Matty Lees was somewhat in the shadow of Alex Walmsley but at the end of last year and at the start of this season Lees looks like he could be replacing Walmsley as the league’s top prop.
Player Ratings:
St Helens
1 Jack Welsby – 7
25 Tee Ritson – 8
23 Konrad Hurrell – 7
3 Will Hopoate – 7
5 Jon Bennison – 7
6 Jonny Lomax – 8
7 Lewis Dodd – 6
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook – 7
9 James Roby – 6
10 Matty Lees – 8
22 Sam Royale – 6
12 Joe Batchelor – 8
19 James Bell – 8
Substitutes
14 Joey Lussick – 6
24 Lewis Baxter – 6
30 George Delaney – 6
34 Wesley Bruines –
Warrington Wolves
1 Matt Dufty – 7
34 Matty Russell – 8
21 Greg Minikin – 7
4 Stefan Ratchford – 7
5 Matty Ashton – 6
6 George Williams – 6
7 Josh Drinkwater – 6
8 James Harrison – 6
16 Danny Walker – 7
13 Josh McGuire – 7
11 Ben Currie – 7
12 Matty Nicholson – 7
9 Daryl Clark – 6
Substitutes
2 Josh Thewlis – 6
3 Peter Mata’utia – 7
14 Sam Kasiano – 8
35 Lucas Green – 6
