Justin Holbrook could be forgiven for thinking life as a Super League coach is always this easy. There will be tougher times ahead for the new man in charge at St Helens, but this has been quite the seamless transition for the Australian as he begins the sizeable task of reviving the Saints’ fortunes.
Holbrook watched on last week as his new side produced the standout performance of Magic Weekend, beating Hull FC 45-0. His first official match could not have been much tougher – the rip-roarer that is rugby league’s greatest derby, St Helens against Wigan.
While, understandably, a lot of the traits which see Holbrook’s side languishing in mid-table halfway through the season remain, this was a game which, claimed right at the death courtesy of Mark Percival’s try, St Helens may not have won earlier this year.
“It was a tough old game,” Holbrook said. “I’m only new but I knew how big a game this was and I tried not to shy away from it. I knew how much it means to both clubs and for us to find a way to win, it was great.”
There have already been some marvellous games in Super League this year, but this surely ranks as one of the best to date. It was nerve-jangling and not settled until the full-time hooter. Wigan led 14-12 at half-time but ultimately their young side’s defensive efforts would prove in vain.
It is now four games without victory for the reigning Super League champions yet their coach, Shaun Wane, remains unperturbed about risking losing touch with the top four. “I’m chuffed with their efforts,” he said. “I’ve got half of my salary cap sat in the gym: we’ll be all right. But that’s one we could have, and should have, won.”
Wigan actually extended their lead to six points thanks to Joe Burgess’s second-half try and looked set to claim a priceless derby victory.
However, Percival’s first try, a wonderful piece of individual play, levelled the score at 18-18. Thomas Leuluai then gave Wigan a one-point lead with a drop goal before Percival kickstarted the Holbrook era with a bang.
St Helens Makinson; Swift, Percival, Morgan, Grace; Fages, Smith; Walmsley, Roby, Amor, Taia, Wilkin, Knowles. Interchange McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Douglas, Thompson, Lee. Tries Morgan, Taia, Percival 2. Goals Percival 3.
Wigan Tierney; Davies, Forsyth, Burgess, Marshall; Williams, Leuluai; Nuuausala, McIlorum, Sutton, Isa, Farrell, O’Loughlin. Interchange Field, Powell, Tautai, Wells. Tries Davies, Tierney, Burgess. Goals Williams 3. Drop goal Leuluai.
Referee P Bentham.
