St Helens Suffer Setback Ahead of International Break as Salford Red Devils Secure Thrilling Victory
St Helens’ unbeaten run came to an end on Friday as they fell to a 20-18 defeat against the Salford Red Devils at the Salford Stadium. The loss has not sat well with Saints fans, with many calling for head coach Paul Wellens to be sacked.
Wellens, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, has faced mounting pressure throughout his tenure, given the expectations that come with leading a team that has won four Grand Finals in a row. However, the recent run of impressive victories had eased some of that scrutiny, until this latest setback.
Despite taking an early lead through James Bell, the Saints were pegged back by a Deon Cross double, trailing 10-6 at the break. The game remained tight, with both sides trading scores, including a try by Kallum Watkins for Salford that was cancelled out by Mark Percival for St Helens. Ultimately, it was Chris Hankinson’s late try that sealed the win for the Red Devils.
“This team is winning nothing under Wellens.”
The defeat means St Helens will not return to the top of the table, and for some fans, the combination of a poor performance and second-place standing has reignited calls for a change in leadership. The official St Helens Twitter (formerly X) page was flooded with frustrated reactions, with comments describing the team’s display as “utter garbage” and “gutless.”
One fan argued that the recent victories were merely “misleading wins against poor sides” and that “this team is winning nothing under Wellens.” The suggestion of seeking an experienced NRL coach to replace Wellens was also mentioned, with concerns raised over the team’s tactical discipline and lack of ideas in attack.
St Helens will now have a two-week break before returning to action against the Castleford Tigers, followed by tough tests against the Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves. These upcoming matches will serve as a true litmus test for Wellens and his side as they look to bounce back from this disappointing result.
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