The League Leader’s Shield may be beyond St Helens this season, as is a home semi-final in the play-offs, barring a mathematical miracle in the final round. But history has shown it would be foolish to rule them out of the running for Grand Final glory and, with 10 wins from their past 11, 2016 is shaping up as no different, even if they must do it the hard way.
That they put themselves in a position to qualify for the play-offs with a game to spare was a marvellous achievement from Keiron Cunningham’s side. They were six points adrift of the top four before a late-season surge that is quintessentially St Helens, the past masters of timing the run to Old Trafford.
Without their star full-back, Jonny Lomax, here they found the going tougher in attack against a resolute Widnes but defensively this was another indicator that Saints are approaching the kind of form required to win a high-pressure semi-final, be it against Hull, Warrington or Wigan when the play-offs begin in a fortnight’s time.
“If you’d have given us this situation 11 weeks ago, we’d have snapped your hands off,” Jamahl Lolesi, the St Helens assistant coach, said. “We came under real pressure midway through the year but credit to the players. We’re under no illusions, though: the bigger games are in front of us.”
Victory looked a formality for Saints after the opening quarter, when they led 12-0 after two tries from the wing Adam Swift. By that stage, the visitors were well on top and with Lomax’s replacement, Shannon McDonnell, proving an influential figure, Widnes did well to not concede any further points in the first half.
As the half wore on they shifted the balance of power in their favour when Patrick Ah Van dived over three minutes before the break. But Matty Fleming’s try 12 minutes after half-time – he had earlier dropped the ball over the line in the act of nearly scoring – gave the visitors some much-needed breathing space in a half of few clear-cut chances.
Corey Thompson’s try eight minutes from time was mere consolation for Widnes – and they finished the game with 11 men after a brawl. The Widnes captain, Kevin Brown, was adjudged to have been chief perpetrator, dismissed for a butt on the St Helens forward Joe Greenwood, who was shown a yellow card for his retaliation to the incident.
Ah Van was also sent off by James Child for his involvement in the brawl and, with a man advantage, the Saints had time late on to extend their lead when Atelea Vea crossed in the corner in the dying seconds. “It was a frustrating game throughout,” Denis Betts, the Widnes coach, said. “The players were getting edgy around each other, there was three poor performances out there today,” he added, hinting at his displeasure towards Child’s performance.
The Saints’ league campaign finishes with a clash against the eighth-placed Wakefield on Friday, and if this run of form yields an 11th win in 12 games, third place and a supposed easier semi-final may be possible for Cunningham’s side. But whether it is third or fourth, this run of form over the last three months has illustrated that there are four very realistic contenders for the Super League crown this year when the play-offs get under way.
Widnes Hanbury; Thompson, Dean, Runicman, Ah Van; Mellor, Brown; Burke, White, Buchanan, Whitley, Houston, Leuluai. Interchange Chapelhow, Manuokafoa, Heremaia, Farrell.
Tries Ah Van, Thompson.
St Helens McDonnell; Owens, Peyroux, Fleming, Swift; Turner, Walsh; Amor, Roby, Richards, Wilkin, Greenwood, McCarthy‑Scarsbrook. Interchange Walmsley, Vea, Thompson, Knowles.
Tries Swift 2, Fleming, Vea. Goals Walsh 2. Drop goal Walsh.
Referee J Child. Attendance 6,128.
