2011 St Helens RLFC season
Encyclopedia
The 2011 St Helens RLFC season was the clubs 137th in their history; their 116th in rugby league
. They were in contention for the Super League
title (with this also being their 16th consecutive year in Super League) as well as the 110th edition of the Challenge Cup
and, as announced in May 2011, the new Rugby League 9s
tournament, to take place across June. The 2011 season was also the clubs' first since unofficially rebranding as Saints RL, following on from their move away from their home of 120 years, Knowsley Road
, to relocate to Widnes
, Cheshire
and the Halton Stadium
, which they shared with Widnes Vikings
. This was Australia
n Royce Simmons
first year as head coach of the club, taking over from fellow Australian Mick Potter, who had two years in charge. The position of club captain at St Helens was shared by Paul Wellens
and James Graham
, following the retirement of club legend Keiron Cunningham
at the end of the 2010 season
. They began their season by taking on bitter rivals Wigan Warriors
at the Magic Weekend
, in a rerun of their defeat at the 2010 Super League Grand Final
, a game that ended in a 16-16 draw.
, his replacement, Royce Simmons; someone who had worked under Tim Sheens
for many years at Wests Tigers
and with the Australian national side. The very fact that St Helens had been, in many fans' eyes 'reduced' to looking for assistant coaches in the NRL
drew a little bit of criticism, but overall, the feeling was positive over Simmons' appointment. The coach would not be the only change either. Club legend Keiron Cunningham retired from playing at the age of 33, after 16 years of paying first team rugby for St Helens, with centre Matt Gidley doing likewise, and returning to Australia. A number of others were to leave too; a combination of age and not being good enough for squad selection under Simmons costing the St Helens careers of 12 of the 2010 squad, most notably, arguably, Maurie Fa'asavalu
, who switched codes with Harlequins
. The influx was far fewer than the outgoing numbers during the transfer period, with only three names coming into the squad for 2011 from other clubs; these being prop Josh Perry
, England
centre Michael Shenton
, and fellow England cap and prop Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
, from Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
, Castleford Tigers
and Harlequins respectively. There were also four new faces in the first team by means of the reserve and academy system at St Helens. Pre-season fixtures announced included a game against Huddersfield Giants
at the Halton Stadium on 29 January and the Karalius Cup game against Widnes, again at the Stobart, on the 23rd.
, after 7 years with Puma
. St Helens also welcomed Alexandra Business Park and Ruskin Leisure Park as partners for the 2011 season.
Below is a list of St Helens sponsors and partners for 2011:
20-52 St Helens
Magic Weekend
St Helens 16-16 Wigan Warriors
St Helens produced a characteristic fightback in the last 15 minutes to snatch an unlikely draw against a well-drilled, energetic Wigan side. After tries from Ryan Hoffman, Harrison Hansen and George Carmont combined with two disallowed Saints efforts from James Roby
and Michael Shenton
, the game looked dead and buried at 16-0 to Wigan; with the auld enemy on top in terms of field position, defense, kicking and handling. However, Saints forged a comeback through a rare missed tackle from an otherwise outstanding Wigan defense when Roby put Jon Wilkin away under the posts, bettered by the boot of Jamie Foster. The energy levels visibly went up, and Tony Puletua powered through the Wigan line and somehow grounded the ball with a mass of bodies surrounding him, again Foster good with the goal. It took Saints another five minutes-a period in which Wigan looked threatening once more-to get their draw, with a forward-looking pass from Jonny Lomax
finding Francis Meli in space out on the touchline, Foster about three yards wide with what would have been the game clinching kick. Wigan's Sam Tomkins and Saints scrum-half Kyle Eastmond
exchanged failed drop-goal attempts late on as both sides settled on a point each in the game of the day at the Magic Weekend.
22-56 St Helens
St Helens created for the first time this season their most attractive brand of football; free-flowing and point scoring. However, the job was done after an hour, and they seemed to take their foot of the gas-a trait they may not wish to fall into permanently. Saints started sharply against an out of sorts Salford side coming off the back of a heavy defeat to Crusaders the week previous, with tries from Chris Flannery and the first of two from Kyle Eastmond. Salford hit back through Luke Patten, but it took them to the second half to post more points; a spell in which St Helens totally dominated and scored another five tries of their own. James Roby in a brilliant performance, Francis Meli, Jonny Lomax and Ade Gardner all crossed to give Saints a 38-6 lead at the break. The second half started in bizarre fashion, with two tries in the first minute from either side; for Salford Ashley Gibson, for St Helens, Lee Gaskell. Paul Clough and Michael Shenton completed the scoring for Saints, before Stefan Ratchford and Jodie Broughton made the scoreline a little more respectable for the Reds.
For the first time in 22 games, Warrington won against St Helens in Super League on a miserable night, both meteorically and psychologically for St Helens, at the Stobart Stadium. It was also Warrington's first ever win in Super League away from home, and was never really in doubt from the moment Lee Briers crossed in the second minute, a score which was bettered by Richie Myler and another from the stand-off before half-time, all of which were converted by Brett Hodgson to give the Wolves an 18-0 half time advantage. Warrington continued to pile on the pressure against an out of sorts Saints side, when Louis Anderson finished from a Lee Gaskell error, Hodgson again with the goal for 24-0. With around ten minutes to play, Michael Shenton crossed for Saints to give them the slightest glimmer of hope; a hope crushed by a Briers field goal that effectively meant Saints had to score three times. Chris Flannery and Lee Gaskell added late scores to give the score an account of respectability, but the performance showed that plenty of defensive work needs to be done for Saints' trophy charge this season.
16-22 St Helens
Bouncing back from their first defeat at home to Warrington in Super League, St Helens produced the defensive grit that was all too absent the week previous against a big Dragons pack. Saints opened the scoring with a free-flowing move finished off by Chris Flannery, bettered by the boot of Kyle Eastmond. Despite massive Catalans' pressure, five minutes later Ade Gardner found the line at the corner after good work by Eastmond, Paul Wellens and Michael Shenton, Eastmond this time wide with the kick at goal. The Dragons pressure then duly paid off, with Setaimata Sa latching on to a Scott Dureau kick, Dureau missing with the conversion but Saints nudged further in front with James Graham getting his first of the season, backing Wellens up well to dot down under the posts, Eastmond with a simple conversion. After the break, the free flowing football Saints seemed to be clicking with for arguably the first time this season continued with Michael Shenton scoring in the right-hand corner, Eastmond again missing with the goal kick. Catalans brought the game back within touching distance with a Steve Menzies try and Dureau goal, but Saints edged further in front with an Eastmond penalty, followed by a consolation try and goal from Dureau that made the final score 22-16 to Saints.
St Helens were simply out classed, out enthused and out played by a flying Quins side, who produced a first half of rugby similar to the days of Saints dominance in the late '90s/early 2000s. Racing into a 20-0 lead at the break thanks to tries from Luke Dorn, Karl Pryce and Tony Clubb, with Luke Gale adding four goals, Saints were never in the contest, producing mistakes and at best very flat rugby, compared to the very lively Quins. It took until the 48th minute for Saints to break their duck, with Francis Meli latching onto a cut-out ball from Lee Gaskell
. An unlikely, and in truth undeserved comeback was on on the cards when captain James Graham powered over, with Kyle Eastmond converting to bring Saints back within two scores. However these hopes were soon dashed when, from the kick-off, Nick Kouparitsas intercepted a James Roby pass; a feat characteristic of the sloppiness of St Helens and the sharpness of the Londoners continuous throughout the game. Five minutes from time, Gale added a drop-goal to wrap up the points before Roby grabbed a last minute consolation after an offload from Tony Puletua
. Either the unpredictability of the competition, or the erratic form of the Saints was to blame here; only time would tell as the competition progressed.
16-30 St Helens
The unpredictability of Saints this season was once again on show as they beat a Leeds side in a similar man-power situation to Saints in a thriller. Added to the significance of the win was the fact that scrum-half Kyle Eastmond
was internally suspended for a serious breach of club discipline, so inexperienced halves Lee Gaskell
and Jonny Lomax
really had to step up to the fore; something they did excellently. They game started in ferocious style, both defences repelling each other, before Jamie Foster squeezed in at the left corner and converted his own try to give Saints the lead on 27 minutes. Leeds hit back five minutes before the break when Ryan hall scored, Kevin Sinfield kicking the goal for 6-6 at the break. It was Leeds who broke the second half deadlock with a very controversial try. The ball from Kallum Watkins
to eventual scorer Zak Hardaker appeared to go yards forward, but, after reference to the video referee, the try, which came about form fine handling from Hardaker, was awarded. This decision only spurred Saints on, and, after a magnificent bomb from Gaskell, Michael Shenton dotted down, Foster again kicking the two for 12-10. The lead again switched hands when Paul McShane nudged over from dummy-half, Sinfield making it 16-12, but St Helens managed to find something that had seemingly escaped them hitherto; heart. Francis Meli barged past Watkins after a good ball from Scott Moore
, before Paul Wellens timed his running line to perfection to latch onto a Gaskell pass. Foster converted both for 24-16. At this point the points were rapped up, despite Leeds' best efforts in reply. But the best, most exhilarating piece of football was still to come, when Meli flicked the ball out to the left wing, Foster caught the ball behind his back, switched it between his hands to score in the tightest of circumstances. To make matters better and put the proverbial icing on the cake of victory for Saints, Foster maintained his perfect kicking display with another goal from the touchline.
For the first time in the season, St Helens showed some signs of consistency, with a comfortable win over a plucky Bradford outfit. It was the Bulls who made the better start though, with Shaun Ainscough latching onto a Marc Herbert
kick, Patrick Ah van converting. Saints hit back in controversial fashion, with Paul Wellens' forward-looking pass falling into the arms of Jamie Foster, who squeezed in at the left-hand corner. Foster missed the goal, but made no mistake after Wellens crashed over. Three tries shared between Wellens, Chris Flannery and Foster in a blistering spell in which Paul Sykes was sin-binned effectively sealed the result, before Ah Van and Ainscough grabbed consolation efforts for the Bulls when Saints were down to 11 men through yellow cards.
Saints extended their winning run to three games with a routine win over Hull KR. It was the Rovers who started the better though, with Kris Welham scoring on 10 minutes. However, the Saints hit back in typical fashion, Sia Soliola getting his first try for the club. In similar style, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook scored his first for the club since his winter move from Harlequins, before scoring an almost carbon copy of his first minutes later, with Jamie Foster's boot giving St Helens a 18-6 advantage. And Ade Gardner
's break gave Paul Wellens the opportunity to scorch in unopposed; 24-6 at half time. Foster him self, so often the points machine with the boot, got on the try list with his fifth in three games, missing the conversion. On his 200th appearance, James Graham crashed over, before consolation efforts from the Robins from Welham and Jake Webster gave the scoreline a somewhat undeserved credibility.
Although St Helens' fantastic form continued in this win over the 'Cru', Saints were guilty of taking their foot off the gas after half-time, and not capitalising on a scrappy display for the Welsh outfit in the second period. Young half-back combination Jonny Lomax and Lee Gaskell, assisted by the on-fire James Roby sent Saints on their way, with Jamie Foster's kicking giving them a 12-0 lead early on. After a brief spell of Crusaders pressure, Paul Wellens took a grubber from Gaskell to score Saints' third of the evening, before Gareth Thomas gave Crusaders a bit of hope. However, Saints wrapped up the win before half time, with two further tries, Roby himself and Ade Gardner crossing to give St Helens a 30-6 lead at the break. The impressive Tony Martin and Lloyd White gave Crusaders a sight at a fightback but Gardner's second on the full time siren ensured the win for Saints.
St Helens produced their most dominant game of the season, with a resounding 9-try-to-1 win over Wakefield. The game started of in tight fashion, with Saints' pressure being cancelled out by some rugged if plucky Wildcats defence. However, the deadlock was broken on 17 minutes, with Paul Wellens' long ball finding the in-form Jamie Foster out wide who crossed and goaled. Jonny Lomax jinked his way through before Jon Wilkin found a gaping hole in the Wakefield defence to set up Foster, who cantered over for his second, and the floodgates were well and truly open. Michael Shenton crossed before half time, before Chris Dean, a former Saints player sped 60 meters on an intercept to give Wakefield a glimmer of hope. However, Ade Gardner went over 7 minutes later, and tries from Gary Wheeler, Wellens, Tony Puletua and Tom Makinson completed the rout.
28-24 St Helens
St Helens' run came to an end in somewhat unfair circumstances after a classic with rivals Wigan. An injury ravaged Saints led 10-0 after 35 minutes through Michael Shenton and Jamie Foster scores. But Wigan hit back close to half-time, with Josh Charnley crossing in the right corner. Tries from Pat Richards (2) and another from Charnley put Wigan ahead for the first time in the game as they sought to dominate. And at 22-10, a youthful Saints side could have been forgiven for giving up, but in typical fashion, they hit back quickly, with Foster's second and Tom Makinson getting his second try in as many games dragging them back on terms. And Saints looked to have won the game, with Foster's boot from a thirty-yard penalty giving them a 24-22 lead with 7 minutes to play. However, Wigan won it through a last minute try from Liam Farrell, after a great delayed pass from Paul Deacon
. An undeserved defeat, but a heartening display gave the game some credibility from Saints' perspective.
40-18 St Helens
St Helens 12-26 Warrington Wolves
St Helens 28-15 Police
St Helens 24-14 Police
St Helens 20-18 Salford City Reds
Wigan Warriors
vs St Helens
St Helens vs Widnes Vikings
St Helens vs Huddersfield Giants
St Helens vs Widnes Vikings
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. They were in contention for the Super League
Super League XIV
The 2009 Super League season is the fourteenth season of rugby league since the Super League format was introduced in 1996...
title (with this also being their 16th consecutive year in Super League) as well as the 110th edition of the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
and, as announced in May 2011, the new Rugby League 9s
Rugby league nines
Rugby league nines is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be...
tournament, to take place across June. The 2011 season was also the clubs' first since unofficially rebranding as Saints RL, following on from their move away from their home of 120 years, Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...
, to relocate to Widnes
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
and the Halton Stadium
Halton Stadium
The Stobart Stadium Halton is a rugby league stadium in Widnes, England. The Widnes Vikings play their home games there as do Everton Reserves...
, which they shared with Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
. This was Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Royce Simmons
Royce Simmons
Royce Simmons is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player, currently the head coach of St Helens RLFC in the European Super League...
first year as head coach of the club, taking over from fellow Australian Mick Potter, who had two years in charge. The position of club captain at St Helens was shared by Paul Wellens
Paul Wellens
Paul Simon Wellens is an English multi-award–winning rugby league footballer. Wellens plays for St. Helens in the European Super League. Wellens is a Great Britain and England international...
and James Graham
James Graham (rugby league)
James Graham is a rugby league player for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative front row forward, he has played his entire professional career to date at St...
, following the retirement of club legend Keiron Cunningham
Keiron Cunningham
Keiron Cunningham is a former British professional rugby league footballer. A Great Britain and Wales international representative hooker, he played his entire club rugby career at St...
at the end of the 2010 season
2010 St Helens RLFC season
St Helens entered their 136th year in rugby in 2010, their 115th in rugby league, and are in contention for the European Super League, in its 15th Season, and the 109th Challenge Cup.-Colours:...
. They began their season by taking on bitter rivals Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
at the Magic Weekend
Magic Weekend
The Magic Weekend, previously Millennium Magic, is a concept by the Rugby Football League to stage an entire round of Super League matches in prestigious and exciting cities to showcase the sport....
, in a rerun of their defeat at the 2010 Super League Grand Final
2010 Super League Grand Final
The 2010 Super League Grand Final was the conclusive and championship-deciding game of Super League XV. Held on Saturday 2 October 2010, at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium, the match was contested by English clubs St Helens and Wigan Warriors...
, a game that ended in a 16-16 draw.
Pre-season
St Helens ended 2010 with yet another Grand Final defeat, their fourth in a row, to bitter rivals Wigan. It was evident that the personnel at the club, combined with the suitability of Mick Potter's position had become surplus to requirements at St Helens, and widespread changes took place. Potter announced mid-2010 that he would be leaving for Bradford BullsBradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
, his replacement, Royce Simmons; someone who had worked under Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos...
for many years at Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
and with the Australian national side. The very fact that St Helens had been, in many fans' eyes 'reduced' to looking for assistant coaches in the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
drew a little bit of criticism, but overall, the feeling was positive over Simmons' appointment. The coach would not be the only change either. Club legend Keiron Cunningham retired from playing at the age of 33, after 16 years of paying first team rugby for St Helens, with centre Matt Gidley doing likewise, and returning to Australia. A number of others were to leave too; a combination of age and not being good enough for squad selection under Simmons costing the St Helens careers of 12 of the 2010 squad, most notably, arguably, Maurie Fa'asavalu
Maurie Fa'asavalu
Maurie Fa'asavalu is a Samoan rugby union player who formerly played rugby league for St Helens. He was recently picked in the Great Britain rugby league squad after living in England for 4 years...
, who switched codes with Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
. The influx was far fewer than the outgoing numbers during the transfer period, with only three names coming into the squad for 2011 from other clubs; these being prop Josh Perry
Josh Perry
Josh Perry is an Australian professional rugby league player for St Helens RLFC in the Super League competition...
, England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
centre Michael Shenton
Michael Shenton
Michael Shenton , is an English professional rugby league footballer currently playing for St. Helens in the Super League. An England international representative , he previously played for the Castleford Tigers before moving to St...
, and fellow England cap and prop Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook , is an English professional rugby league footballer for St Helens RLFC of Super League. An England international representative forward, he previously played for Harlequins in his home town of London.-Harlequins:McCarthy-Scarsbrook is a product of the Quins RL Junior...
, from Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
, Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
and Harlequins respectively. There were also four new faces in the first team by means of the reserve and academy system at St Helens. Pre-season fixtures announced included a game against Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
at the Halton Stadium on 29 January and the Karalius Cup game against Widnes, again at the Stobart, on the 23rd.
Sponsors
St Helens are sponsored in the main by Medicash, after previously being sponsored by both Frontline and the Liverpool-based health care company on the home and away jerseys respectively. However, Medicash took over compete sponsorship of both the away and home strips for 2011. The jerseys themselves will are manufactured by ISCInternational Sports Clothing
International Sports Clothing is an Australian sports apparel manufacturer. Although they are an Australian company they have an operating base set up in the UK. The New Zealand Distributor for ISC is Lenco Sport NZ...
, after 7 years with Puma
PUMA AG
Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...
. St Helens also welcomed Alexandra Business Park and Ruskin Leisure Park as partners for the 2011 season.
Below is a list of St Helens sponsors and partners for 2011:
| 2011 St Helens RLFC sponsors | |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Name |
| Kit manufacturer | ISC International Sports Clothing International Sports Clothing is an Australian sports apparel manufacturer. Although they are an Australian company they have an operating base set up in the UK. The New Zealand Distributor for ISC is Lenco Sport NZ... |
| Stadium sponsors | Stobart |
| Home jersey front sponsor | Medicash |
| Shorts sponsor | Tudor North West |
| Back panel sponsor | Hattons Solicitors |
| Collar sponsor | Live'smart |
| Front panel sponsors | Alexandra Business Park |
| Arm sponsor | James Edward Land Rover |
| Arm sponsor | Knowsley Safari Park Knowsley Safari Park -External links:**... |
| Overseas travel partners | Emirates Emirates Airline Emirates is the airline based in the Emirate of Dubai part of the United Arab Emirates . Based at Dubai International Airport it is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 2,400 flights per week, from its hub at Terminal 3, to 111 cities in 62 countries across six continents... |
| Travel partners | Arriva Arriva Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each... |
| Travel partners | Hattons Travel |
| Website partners | EMS Internet |
| Stadium partners | Science in Sport |
| Stadium partners | Macmillan Cancer Support Macmillan Cancer Support Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer.... |
| Stadium partners | Playing for Success Playing for Success Playing for Success is an initiative in England set up by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, aims to focus on raising literacy, numeracy and ICT standards amongst demotivated KS2 and KS3 pupils .... |
| Stadium partners | Ruskin Leisure Limited |
| Ball providers | Steeden Steeden Steeden is an Australian sporting goods manufacturer, best known for producing rugby league footballs.Steeden is the official ball supplier of the National Rugby League , Rugby League State of Origin, Kangaroos National Team, New South Wales Rugby League, Queensland Rugby League, Rugby Football... |
| League partners | engage Mutual |
In
| In | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Signed from | When signed | ||||||||
| Josh Perry Josh Perry Josh Perry is an Australian professional rugby league player for St Helens RLFC in the Super League competition... |
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia... |
August 2010 | ||||||||
| Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook , is an English professional rugby league footballer for St Helens RLFC of Super League. An England international representative forward, he previously played for Harlequins in his home town of London.-Harlequins:McCarthy-Scarsbrook is a product of the Quins RL Junior... |
Harlequins RL | September 2010 | ||||||||
| Michael Shenton Michael Shenton Michael Shenton , is an English professional rugby league footballer currently playing for St. Helens in the Super League. An England international representative , he previously played for the Castleford Tigers before moving to St... |
Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'... |
October 2010 | ||||||||
| Carl Forster Carl Forster Carl Forster is a professional English rugby league player who plays for St Helens in the engage Super League. He plays predominantly as a prop, and signed for Saints from local amateur club Pilkington Recs in 2009. The 2011 season was his first as a professional with St Helens. He enjoyed Grand... |
Promoted from Academy | November 2010 | ||||||||
| Scott Hale Scott Hale Scott Hale is a professional English rugby league player who is in his first professional season with St Helens of the Super League. He plays most regularly as a second-rower, but can also play at centre. He signed for the club from Haydock Warriors, after attending and playing for Haydock Sports... |
Promoted from Academy | November 2010 | ||||||||
| Thomas Makinson Thomas Makinson Thomas Makinson is a professional English rugby league player who is currently contracted to St Helens of the Super League. He plays in the main as a fullback, but can also play in the centres. He signed for the club from Wigan amateur side Wigan St Judes, after previously playing for the Wigan... |
Promoted from Academy | November 2010 | ||||||||
| Nathan Ashe Nathan Ashe Nathan Ashe is a professional rugby league player. Born in New Zealand he moved to England at the age of 17, he is currently in his first professional season with St Helens in the engage Super League after excelling at academy level. He plays chiefly as a fullback, but is equally at home at... |
Promoted from Academy | November 2010 | ||||||||
| Josh Jones Josh Jones (rugby league) Joshua Jones is a professional rugby league player, currently playing for St Helens RLFC of the Super League. Jones is by preference a centre, but can also play wing and stand-off, whilst also spending a lot of time at loose-forward in his amateur days... |
Promoted from Academy | April 2011 | ||||||||
| Joe Greenwood Joe Greenwood Joseph Greenwood is a professional rugby league player, currently playing for St Helens RLFC in the European Super League. He is a prop forward, and signed for St Helens from Saddleworth Rangers.-References:... |
Promoted from Academy | April 2011 | ||||||||
| Warren Thompson Warren Thompson (rugby league) Warren Thompson is a professional rugby league player, currently contracted to St Helens of Super League. Thompson is by preference a second rower, and signed for the club from Thatto Heath Crusaders.-References:... |
Promoted from Academy | April 2011 | ||||||||
| Jordan Hand | Promoted from Academy | May 2011 | ||||||||
| Mid-season signings for 2012 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Signed from | When Signed | ||||||||
| Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia is a New Zealand rugby league player, he currently plays for St Helens RLFC. In 2008 Hohaia was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team.-Early years:... |
New Zealand Warriors New Zealand Warriors The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia... |
April 2011 | ||||||||
| Anthony Laffranchi Anthony Laffranchi Anthony Laffranchi is an Australian professional rugby league player for St Helens RLFC in the European Super League. He primarily plays in the second-row. He previously played for the Wests Tigers... |
Gold Coast Titans Gold Coast Titans Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its... |
May 2011 | ||||||||
| Mark Flanagan Mark Flanagan (rugby league) Mark Flanagan Mark Flanagan Mark Flanagan (born December 4, 1987 in Oldham, Greater Manchester, is an English rugby league player for St Helens RLFC in the European Super League. He normally plays at Loose-Forward. He previously played for the Wigan Warriors in the European Super League... |
Wests Tigers Wests Tigers The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs... |
July 2011 | ||||||||
Out
| Out | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Signed for | When left | ||||||||
| Keiron Cunningham Keiron Cunningham Keiron Cunningham is a former British professional rugby league footballer. A Great Britain and Wales international representative hooker, he played his entire club rugby career at St... |
Retired | October 2010 | ||||||||
| Matt Gidley Matthew Gidley Matthew "Matt" Gidley is an Australian rugby league administrator and retired professional footballer. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Gidley represented New South Wales and Australia. He is the currently CEO of Football Operations at the Newcastle Knights... |
Retired | October 2010 | ||||||||
| Nick Fozzard Nick Fozzard Nicholas Fozzard is an English rugby league footballer who is currently playing for Castleford Tigers of Super League.A , his previous clubs are St. Helens, Warrington, Huddersfield, Leeds and Hull KR, and has signed a 1-year deal with Castleford Tigers for the 2011 season.During his spell with St... |
Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'... |
October 2010 | ||||||||
| Bryn Hargreaves Bryn Hargreaves Bryn Hargreaves is an English rugby league player with Super League team Bradford Bulls .Bryn Hargreaves played prop forward in the Wigan Academy since 2002. He made his first team debut from the subs' bench against Salford City Reds in July 2004 and his full debut against London Broncos in... |
Bradford Bulls Bradford Bulls Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league.... |
October 2010 | ||||||||
| Chris Dean Chris Dean Christopher David Dean born 17 January 1988 in Higher End, Wigan, Greater Manchester, is a rugby league player for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the engage Super League. Dean's position of choice is as in the but he can also operate as a or on the . Chris signed for St. Helens aged 15 from the... |
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts... |
December 2010 | ||||||||
| Maurie Fa'asavalu Maurie Fa'asavalu Maurie Fa'asavalu is a Samoan rugby union player who formerly played rugby league for St Helens. He was recently picked in the Great Britain rugby league squad after living in England for 4 years... |
Code switch (Harlequin F.C. Harlequin F.C. The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop... ) |
October 2010 | ||||||||
| Jacob Emmitt Jacob Emmitt Jacob Emmitt , is a professional rugby league footballer for Castleford Tigers of Super League. A Wales international representative prop, he spent the 2010 season on loan at Leigh Centurions.... |
Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'... |
October 2010 | ||||||||
| Matty Smith Matty Smith Matty Smith is an English rugby league footballer who plays for Salford City Reds in the engage Super League, having spent the 2010 season on loan there from his parent club St... |
Salford City Reds Salford City Reds Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup... |
October 2010 | ||||||||
| Steve Tyrer Steve Tyrer Stephen Tyrer is a rugby league footballer who plays for the Widnes Vikings in the Championship he previously played for Salford City Reds in the Super League. Tyrer is a goal kicking centre or winger.... |
Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... |
October 2010 | ||||||||
| Jamie Ellis Jamie Ellis trophies won Northern Rail Cup 2011Jamie Ellis is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for Leigh Centurions. Signing for St. Helens as a youngster from amateur team Chorley Panthers, Ellis is a scrum-half.-St Helens career:... |
Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in... |
November 2010 | ||||||||
| Jack Bradbury Jack Bradbury (rugby league) Jack Bradbury is a professional rugby league footballer who is in his first professional season with St. Helens in the European Super League. Primarily a centre, he signed for the St Helens Academy team after playing youth and amateur football for Saddleworth Rangers... |
Oldham Roughyeds Oldham Roughyeds Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895.... |
November 2010 | ||||||||
| Andy Yates Andy Yates Andrew "Andy" Yates is a professional rugby league player. Yates currently plays for St. Helens in the Super League. His position of preference is prop and he signed as a junior from local amateur side Thatto Heath Crusaders. Yates made his first team début last season but has not made any further... |
Hunslet Hawks Hunslet Hawks Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:... |
November 2010 | ||||||||
| Gareth Frodsham Gareth Frodsham Gareth Frodsham born 18 December 1989 in England is a rugby league player for St. Helens in the engage Super League.Gareth Frodsham's position of choice is as a .-External links:*... |
Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... (dual-registration) |
November 2010 | ||||||||
| Tom Armstrong Tom Armstrong (rugby league) Thomas "Tom" Armstrong is a professional Rugby League footballer who currently plays for St. Helens. He wears the number 26 jersey and signed for the club from amateur side Pilkington Recs. Armstrong is primarily a centre but can comfortably deputise on the wings and the back row... |
Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in... (dual-registration) |
November 2010 | ||||||||
| Mid-season losses for 2012 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Signed for | When left | ||||||||
| Kyle Eastmond Kyle Eastmond Kyle Eastmond is a professional rugby union footballer who currently plays for Bath, and has played for St. Helens in Super League and internationally for England. Eastmond has been compared to Australian international Scott Prince, because of his darting runs to the line and a good kicking game.... |
Code switch (Bath Rugby Bath Rugby Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league... ) |
November 2011 | ||||||||
| James Graham James Graham (rugby league) James Graham is a rugby league player for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative front row forward, he has played his entire professional career to date at St... |
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | November 2011 | ||||||||
Karalius Cup
Widnes VikingsWidnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
20-52 St Helens
29 January
St Helens 12-36 Huddersfield GiantsHuddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
Magic WeekendMagic WeekendThe Magic Weekend, previously Millennium Magic, is a concept by the Rugby Football League to stage an entire round of Super League matches in prestigious and exciting cities to showcase the sport....
St Helens 16-16 Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
St Helens produced a characteristic fightback in the last 15 minutes to snatch an unlikely draw against a well-drilled, energetic Wigan side. After tries from Ryan Hoffman, Harrison Hansen and George Carmont combined with two disallowed Saints efforts from James Roby
James Roby
James Roby is an English professional rugby league footballer for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative hooker, he has played his entire professional career to date at St Helens, winning the 2006 Super League XI Championship with them.-Career:Roby...
and Michael Shenton
Michael Shenton
Michael Shenton , is an English professional rugby league footballer currently playing for St. Helens in the Super League. An England international representative , he previously played for the Castleford Tigers before moving to St...
, the game looked dead and buried at 16-0 to Wigan; with the auld enemy on top in terms of field position, defense, kicking and handling. However, Saints forged a comeback through a rare missed tackle from an otherwise outstanding Wigan defense when Roby put Jon Wilkin away under the posts, bettered by the boot of Jamie Foster. The energy levels visibly went up, and Tony Puletua powered through the Wigan line and somehow grounded the ball with a mass of bodies surrounding him, again Foster good with the goal. It took Saints another five minutes-a period in which Wigan looked threatening once more-to get their draw, with a forward-looking pass from Jonny Lomax
Jonny Lomax
Jonathan "Jonny" Lomax is a professional rugby league player who plays for St Helens in the engage Super League. A versatile player, Lomax is primarily a stand-off but is equally as comfortable at scrum-half, but featured more regularly on the wing in the early stages of his professional career....
finding Francis Meli in space out on the touchline, Foster about three yards wide with what would have been the game clinching kick. Wigan's Sam Tomkins and Saints scrum-half Kyle Eastmond
Kyle Eastmond
Kyle Eastmond is a professional rugby union footballer who currently plays for Bath, and has played for St. Helens in Super League and internationally for England. Eastmond has been compared to Australian international Scott Prince, because of his darting runs to the line and a good kicking game....
exchanged failed drop-goal attempts late on as both sides settled on a point each in the game of the day at the Magic Weekend.
Round 2
Salford City RedsSalford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
22-56 St Helens
St Helens created for the first time this season their most attractive brand of football; free-flowing and point scoring. However, the job was done after an hour, and they seemed to take their foot of the gas-a trait they may not wish to fall into permanently. Saints started sharply against an out of sorts Salford side coming off the back of a heavy defeat to Crusaders the week previous, with tries from Chris Flannery and the first of two from Kyle Eastmond. Salford hit back through Luke Patten, but it took them to the second half to post more points; a spell in which St Helens totally dominated and scored another five tries of their own. James Roby in a brilliant performance, Francis Meli, Jonny Lomax and Ade Gardner all crossed to give Saints a 38-6 lead at the break. The second half started in bizarre fashion, with two tries in the first minute from either side; for Salford Ashley Gibson, for St Helens, Lee Gaskell. Paul Clough and Michael Shenton completed the scoring for Saints, before Stefan Ratchford and Jodie Broughton made the scoreline a little more respectable for the Reds.
Round 3
St Helens 18-25 Warrington WolvesWarrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
For the first time in 22 games, Warrington won against St Helens in Super League on a miserable night, both meteorically and psychologically for St Helens, at the Stobart Stadium. It was also Warrington's first ever win in Super League away from home, and was never really in doubt from the moment Lee Briers crossed in the second minute, a score which was bettered by Richie Myler and another from the stand-off before half-time, all of which were converted by Brett Hodgson to give the Wolves an 18-0 half time advantage. Warrington continued to pile on the pressure against an out of sorts Saints side, when Louis Anderson finished from a Lee Gaskell error, Hodgson again with the goal for 24-0. With around ten minutes to play, Michael Shenton crossed for Saints to give them the slightest glimmer of hope; a hope crushed by a Briers field goal that effectively meant Saints had to score three times. Chris Flannery and Lee Gaskell added late scores to give the score an account of respectability, but the performance showed that plenty of defensive work needs to be done for Saints' trophy charge this season.
Round 4
Catalans DragonsCatalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
16-22 St Helens
Bouncing back from their first defeat at home to Warrington in Super League, St Helens produced the defensive grit that was all too absent the week previous against a big Dragons pack. Saints opened the scoring with a free-flowing move finished off by Chris Flannery, bettered by the boot of Kyle Eastmond. Despite massive Catalans' pressure, five minutes later Ade Gardner found the line at the corner after good work by Eastmond, Paul Wellens and Michael Shenton, Eastmond this time wide with the kick at goal. The Dragons pressure then duly paid off, with Setaimata Sa latching on to a Scott Dureau kick, Dureau missing with the conversion but Saints nudged further in front with James Graham getting his first of the season, backing Wellens up well to dot down under the posts, Eastmond with a simple conversion. After the break, the free flowing football Saints seemed to be clicking with for arguably the first time this season continued with Michael Shenton scoring in the right-hand corner, Eastmond again missing with the goal kick. Catalans brought the game back within touching distance with a Steve Menzies try and Dureau goal, but Saints edged further in front with an Eastmond penalty, followed by a consolation try and goal from Dureau that made the final score 22-16 to Saints.
Round 5
St Helens 16-27 HarlequinsSt Helens were simply out classed, out enthused and out played by a flying Quins side, who produced a first half of rugby similar to the days of Saints dominance in the late '90s/early 2000s. Racing into a 20-0 lead at the break thanks to tries from Luke Dorn, Karl Pryce and Tony Clubb, with Luke Gale adding four goals, Saints were never in the contest, producing mistakes and at best very flat rugby, compared to the very lively Quins. It took until the 48th minute for Saints to break their duck, with Francis Meli latching onto a cut-out ball from Lee Gaskell
Lee Gaskell
Lee Gaskell is a professional rugby league player currently playing for St. Helens in the Super League. Signing from local amateur club Blackbrook Royals, Gaskell is primarily a stand-off half but can convert to the centres when required...
. An unlikely, and in truth undeserved comeback was on on the cards when captain James Graham powered over, with Kyle Eastmond converting to bring Saints back within two scores. However these hopes were soon dashed when, from the kick-off, Nick Kouparitsas intercepted a James Roby pass; a feat characteristic of the sloppiness of St Helens and the sharpness of the Londoners continuous throughout the game. Five minutes from time, Gale added a drop-goal to wrap up the points before Roby grabbed a last minute consolation after an offload from Tony Puletua
Tony Puletua
Anthony Puletua is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for St. Helens in the European Super League. A New Zealand and Samoan international, Puletua previously played for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League competition...
. Either the unpredictability of the competition, or the erratic form of the Saints was to blame here; only time would tell as the competition progressed.
Round 6
Leeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
16-30 St Helens
The unpredictability of Saints this season was once again on show as they beat a Leeds side in a similar man-power situation to Saints in a thriller. Added to the significance of the win was the fact that scrum-half Kyle Eastmond
Kyle Eastmond
Kyle Eastmond is a professional rugby union footballer who currently plays for Bath, and has played for St. Helens in Super League and internationally for England. Eastmond has been compared to Australian international Scott Prince, because of his darting runs to the line and a good kicking game....
was internally suspended for a serious breach of club discipline, so inexperienced halves Lee Gaskell
Lee Gaskell
Lee Gaskell is a professional rugby league player currently playing for St. Helens in the Super League. Signing from local amateur club Blackbrook Royals, Gaskell is primarily a stand-off half but can convert to the centres when required...
and Jonny Lomax
Jonny Lomax
Jonathan "Jonny" Lomax is a professional rugby league player who plays for St Helens in the engage Super League. A versatile player, Lomax is primarily a stand-off but is equally as comfortable at scrum-half, but featured more regularly on the wing in the early stages of his professional career....
really had to step up to the fore; something they did excellently. They game started in ferocious style, both defences repelling each other, before Jamie Foster squeezed in at the left corner and converted his own try to give Saints the lead on 27 minutes. Leeds hit back five minutes before the break when Ryan hall scored, Kevin Sinfield kicking the goal for 6-6 at the break. It was Leeds who broke the second half deadlock with a very controversial try. The ball from Kallum Watkins
Kallum Watkins
Kallum Watkins is an English professional Rugby League player for the Leeds Rhinos. He can play as a centre, a winger or a fullback.Watkins began his career in the Salford City Reds Junior Academy, before signing for the Leeds Rhinos in 2007, after impressing during a trial.In his first season in...
to eventual scorer Zak Hardaker appeared to go yards forward, but, after reference to the video referee, the try, which came about form fine handling from Hardaker, was awarded. This decision only spurred Saints on, and, after a magnificent bomb from Gaskell, Michael Shenton dotted down, Foster again kicking the two for 12-10. The lead again switched hands when Paul McShane nudged over from dummy-half, Sinfield making it 16-12, but St Helens managed to find something that had seemingly escaped them hitherto; heart. Francis Meli barged past Watkins after a good ball from Scott Moore
Scott Moore (rugby league)
Scott Moore is a rugby league footballer who plays for Widnes Vikings in the European Super League.Scott Moore was the youngest ever Super League player when he made his debut at the JJB Stadium aged only 16....
, before Paul Wellens timed his running line to perfection to latch onto a Gaskell pass. Foster converted both for 24-16. At this point the points were rapped up, despite Leeds' best efforts in reply. But the best, most exhilarating piece of football was still to come, when Meli flicked the ball out to the left wing, Foster caught the ball behind his back, switched it between his hands to score in the tightest of circumstances. To make matters better and put the proverbial icing on the cake of victory for Saints, Foster maintained his perfect kicking display with another goal from the touchline.
Round 7
St Helens 28-16 Bradford BullsBradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
For the first time in the season, St Helens showed some signs of consistency, with a comfortable win over a plucky Bradford outfit. It was the Bulls who made the better start though, with Shaun Ainscough latching onto a Marc Herbert
Marc Herbert
Marc Herbert is a Rugby League player who is now unattached after being released by the Bradford Bulls at the end of the 2011 season. He made his NRL debut in the Round 20 clash vs. the Gold Coast Titans, in place of the suspended Todd Carney...
kick, Patrick Ah van converting. Saints hit back in controversial fashion, with Paul Wellens' forward-looking pass falling into the arms of Jamie Foster, who squeezed in at the left-hand corner. Foster missed the goal, but made no mistake after Wellens crashed over. Three tries shared between Wellens, Chris Flannery and Foster in a blistering spell in which Paul Sykes was sin-binned effectively sealed the result, before Ah Van and Ainscough grabbed consolation efforts for the Bulls when Saints were down to 11 men through yellow cards.
Round 8
St Helens 34-16 Hull Kingston RoversHull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
Saints extended their winning run to three games with a routine win over Hull KR. It was the Rovers who started the better though, with Kris Welham scoring on 10 minutes. However, the Saints hit back in typical fashion, Sia Soliola getting his first try for the club. In similar style, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook scored his first for the club since his winter move from Harlequins, before scoring an almost carbon copy of his first minutes later, with Jamie Foster's boot giving St Helens a 18-6 advantage. And Ade Gardner
Ade Gardner
Adrian Antonio Gardner is an English professional rugby league footballer for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain representative winger, he previously played for Barrow Raiders. He is the older brother of Ex-Salford City Reds winger, Mat Gardner.Gardner went to St Columba's Roman...
's break gave Paul Wellens the opportunity to scorch in unopposed; 24-6 at half time. Foster him self, so often the points machine with the boot, got on the try list with his fifth in three games, missing the conversion. On his 200th appearance, James Graham crashed over, before consolation efforts from the Robins from Welham and Jake Webster gave the scoreline a somewhat undeserved credibility.
Round 9
Crusaders 18-34 St HelensAlthough St Helens' fantastic form continued in this win over the 'Cru', Saints were guilty of taking their foot off the gas after half-time, and not capitalising on a scrappy display for the Welsh outfit in the second period. Young half-back combination Jonny Lomax and Lee Gaskell, assisted by the on-fire James Roby sent Saints on their way, with Jamie Foster's kicking giving them a 12-0 lead early on. After a brief spell of Crusaders pressure, Paul Wellens took a grubber from Gaskell to score Saints' third of the evening, before Gareth Thomas gave Crusaders a bit of hope. However, Saints wrapped up the win before half time, with two further tries, Roby himself and Ade Gardner crossing to give St Helens a 30-6 lead at the break. The impressive Tony Martin and Lloyd White gave Crusaders a sight at a fightback but Gardner's second on the full time siren ensured the win for Saints.
Round 10
St Helens 52-6 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsWakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
St Helens produced their most dominant game of the season, with a resounding 9-try-to-1 win over Wakefield. The game started of in tight fashion, with Saints' pressure being cancelled out by some rugged if plucky Wildcats defence. However, the deadlock was broken on 17 minutes, with Paul Wellens' long ball finding the in-form Jamie Foster out wide who crossed and goaled. Jonny Lomax jinked his way through before Jon Wilkin found a gaping hole in the Wakefield defence to set up Foster, who cantered over for his second, and the floodgates were well and truly open. Michael Shenton crossed before half time, before Chris Dean, a former Saints player sped 60 meters on an intercept to give Wakefield a glimmer of hope. However, Ade Gardner went over 7 minutes later, and tries from Gary Wheeler, Wellens, Tony Puletua and Tom Makinson completed the rout.
Round 11
Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
28-24 St Helens
St Helens' run came to an end in somewhat unfair circumstances after a classic with rivals Wigan. An injury ravaged Saints led 10-0 after 35 minutes through Michael Shenton and Jamie Foster scores. But Wigan hit back close to half-time, with Josh Charnley crossing in the right corner. Tries from Pat Richards (2) and another from Charnley put Wigan ahead for the first time in the game as they sought to dominate. And at 22-10, a youthful Saints side could have been forgiven for giving up, but in typical fashion, they hit back quickly, with Foster's second and Tom Makinson getting his second try in as many games dragging them back on terms. And Saints looked to have won the game, with Foster's boot from a thirty-yard penalty giving them a 24-22 lead with 7 minutes to play. However, Wigan won it through a last minute try from Liam Farrell, after a great delayed pass from Paul Deacon
Paul Deacon
Paul Deacon is a retired rugby league footballer. He previously played for Bradford Bulls from 1998 until joining his hometown club Wigan Warriors in 2010...
. An undeserved defeat, but a heartening display gave the game some credibility from Saints' perspective.
Round 12
St Helens 22-20 Castleford TigersCastleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
Round 13
Hull 24-24 St HelensRound 14
Huddersfield GiantsHuddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
40-18 St Helens
Round 1
St Helens 18-16 CumbriaSt Helens 12-26 Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
St Helens 28-15 Police
Round 2
St Helens 12-22 Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
St Helens 24-14 Police
St Helens 20-18 Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
Round 3
St Helens vs Warrington WolvesWarrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
vs St Helens
St Helens vs Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
Round 4
St Helens vs British PoliceSt Helens vs Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
St Helens vs Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...