There are few towns in the land where you can almost feel the pressure to perform well on the rugby league field more than St Helens. Super League’s most successful club have such immense standards given their historical triumphs that any blip is treated with severe and harsh criticism.
Arguably nobody knows that better than Paul Wellens. One of the Saints’ greatest-ever players’ position as head coach has come under immense pressure in recent weeks after scraping into the playoffs last year and underwhelming again in the early stages of this year – so much so, speculation is already brewing about potential replacements.
Nobody is suggesting that this victory over a beaten-up and confidence-sapped Catalans suddenly hints the Saints are suddenly bona fide title contenders. But it was perhaps the manner of it which will act as the catalyst for their season. Defeat here would have been unthinkable forSt Helens, victory the bare minimum.
This squad is approaching the end of a glittering era, with Alex Walmsley and Jonny Lomax, the heartbeat of the side who won four Grand Finals in succession between 2019 and 2022, reaching the end. But for 80 minutes here, it felt like the good old days as Saints faced an opponent with weaknesses and ruthlessly put them to the sword.
And the biggest positive of them all here? The latest talent to emerge from their prestigious production line. Wellens’ biggest problem this year has been finding an attacking spine that can deliver – but there can be no doubting that teenage half-back George Whitby is now categorically part of that moving forwards.
Whitby was sublime here, scoring a wonderful hat-trick but also performing with a level of maturity and composure that belied his years. “He’s got the potential to go to the top of the game and I’ve every confidence he’ll do that,” Wellens said. “I think a lot of people are going to enjoy watching him.”
Whitby’s first two tries bookended an impressive first half from Saints. In between that, Deon Cross and Walmsley both crossed and perhaps the only criticism at the break, with the hosts 24-0 ahead, was merely how many more points Wellens’ men had left out on the field, with a number of chances going to ground.
But even at that early stage, you felt as though that would be more than enough, and so it proved against a Dragons side without numerous senior players, but also whose season is quickly unravelling. They could end the weekend ninth, and the pressure may be starting to mount on Super League’s longest-serving coach, Steve McNamara.
His side could have no complaints here, with this the first time they conceded 40 or more in a game since 2022. High-profile St Helens recruit Tristan Sailor has been one of the central points of criticism so far this season, having underperformed in a number of positions since joining from Brisbane.
But he looked settled on the wing here, with his break setting up Whitby’s first try before scoring one of his own shortly after the restart. That was then followed up by a wonderful flying finish from Lewis Murphy to make it 34-0.
However, it was fitting that the final word went to Whitby, who capitalised upon a sensational offload from Walmsley to go in under the posts and score his first senior hat-trick.
It would be wise not to put too much pressure on his young shoulders so soon, but you suspect if Wellens and Saints can turn this around and force their way into the title mix this year, their latest scrum cap-adorning sensation will have had a major say in it.