Despite beating Wakefield Trinity 46-16 on Saturday, Jon Wilkin believes that St Helens’ play-off hopes are as good as over.
With the win, Saints sit four points behind both Hull KR and Leigh Leopards, but that could change depending on the result between KR and Warrington Wolves on Friday night.
The Red Vee, who remain decimated with injuries and are playing a squad miles away from full strength, would have to win all four of their remaining games to put themselves in with any chance of making the six.
Their hopes are not mathematically over, and with a final day tie against Hull KR on the cards, that could well be the deciding game as to who makes the finals, and whose season ends early.
Amid all that though, former player Wilkin believes that Saints’ six hopes are done, and have been for a while. On Saints’ play-off record ending, he said after the Wakefield win: “Prior to them losing to York and Hull, I thought they wouldn’t make the play-offs. I’m standing by that, I don’t think they will.
“This is a magnificent performance from them, against all odds in many respects, but it’s simply too little, too late for St Helens in 2026.”
Tristan Sailor hailed but key problem remains after St Helens defeat Wakefield
One man who rightfully deserved plenty of praise for his efforts is Tristan Sailor, who had to play full-back, centre and wing across the 80 minutes due to injuries and reshuffles.
The Aussie scored a hat-trick and had a hand in another four-pointer, making him the best player on the field, and by some distance.
Wilkin said that Sailor earned the Man of the Match award for “a number of reasons – one was how dangerous he was with the ball, but then the effort and the intent to get back and stop Lachlan Walmsley in the corner. Those are big moments, those are the big challenges.
“In the last two weeks, I said in the York game, if we’d have seen more of that, they’d have won the game.”
The big thing for Sailor now is where he plays. We’ve mentioned he shifted around massively in the Wakefield win, and whilst it worked on Saturday, having him constantly switching roles isn’t sustainable.
“Everything looked easy for him,” Wilkin added. “I think the question marks I’ve had about Tristan Sailor were around paying somebody as an import to come in and just be a utility player. It felt sort of wasteful as a recruitment spot.
“If he could nail down a spot.. He’s dangerous, but the problem with Saints is the indecision around where he plays.”
Wilkin continued: “It’s hard not to like Tristan Sailor when you hear him interviewed as well. A lovely guy, and I think he’s had a tough time. He’s certainly been moved around a lot, but he’s shown that when he’s put in a position or when he’s asked to play a number of positions, his rugby instincts are high.
“I just feel like the indecision in that spine that we’ve seen over the last 18, 24 months has been an issue for them, and they need to address that and get him playing a position every week.”
