St Helens interim coach Eamon O’Carroll has spoken publicly for the first time since the club parted ways with head coach Paul Rowley.
Less than 36 hours before taking on Wigan Warriors in the derby, St Helens announced that they had parted ways with Paul Rowley after just 23 games and nine months in charge.
It marks the shortest reign of any permanent coach at St Helens during the Super League era and whilst some may suggest that it’s the right decision, the timing certainly came as a shock.
Assistant coach Eamon O’Carroll, who has been made interim coach, spoke to Sky Sports ahead of the game and admitted as such.
“It’s been a big shock,” O’Carroll said.
“It’s a lot to take in in such a short space of time but you realise quickly that you have to energise the group and get them ready for what is going to be a great game today.”
Revealing when he and the players found out, O’Carroll explained that they learned at a similar time to when the club released their 11:00 am statement.
“It happened on the Thursday morning, which was our last session, O’Carroll said.
“I must admit that after the initial shock, the group has come together really well.
“I’m really looking forward to watching them respond tonight.”
He also confirmed that the squad Saints were running with was the same 17 that Paul Rowley had picked so as to avoid any more changes.
O’Carroll confirmed: After a lengthy discussion with the staff, we felt it was important that we give the lads some sort of consistency in terms of how we prepared in the week.
“(We felt) that would give us the best chance to perform tonight, so we stuck with that.”
