St Helens Coach Considers Sweeping Changes After Dismal Defeat
St Helens head coach Paul Wellens has hinted at the possibility of making significant roster changes following his team’s latest humiliating loss on Saturday. The Saints were comprehensively defeated 42-6 by league leaders Hull KR, a result that has left their playoff aspirations hanging in the balance.
Trailing 26-0 at halftime, the Saints failed to improve much in the second half, a display that Wellens described as “really poor.” He acknowledged that the opening 15 minutes set the tone for the lopsided affair, and while there was a slight improvement later on, it was not enough to meet the team’s high standards.
When asked directly about the prospect of wholesale changes, Wellens stated, “Potentially. We spoke all week around standards as they’ve been really high for a long time, and we’ve got to meet those. If you’re not meeting those standards, you’re not helping the team be successful.“
The defeat leaves St Helens just two points clear of seventh-placed Leeds, and Wellens did not rule out the possibility that his experienced players may have become complacent due to their previous success. “Maybe the more experienced players have had too much success,” he suggested.
Wellens remained reluctant to delve deeper into the specific reasons behind the team’s indifferent display, stating, “There’s a number of different reasons, but at the minute, I’m loathe to say too much.” However, he made it clear that decisive action may be necessary to address the team’s shortcomings and get their playoff push back on track.
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