Wellens slams Saints’ failure to respond when going gets tough

St Helens head coach Paul Wellens was frustrated by his side's failure to respond to setbacks in Friday's 34-4 defeat away to Betfred Super League leaders Hull KR; Lewis Murphy thought he had got Saints back into the match with a spectacular effort in the second half, only for the video referee to rule out the try; the defeat leaves St Helens 10 points behind the Robins as the regular season approaches the midway point

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Marc Bazeley
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Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com - 23/05/2025 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League: Round 12 - Huddersfield Giants vs St Helens - John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield, England - St Helens head coach Paul Wellens
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com - 23/05/2025 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League: Round 12 - Huddersfield Giants vs St Helens - John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield, England - St Helens head coach Paul Wellens

PAUL Wellens was left to rue St Helens’ failure to respond to setbacks as they slumped to a 34-4 defeat away to Betfred Challenge Cup finalists Hull KR.

The Robins stormed in to 28-4 lead at half time and managed to see out the rest of the match to go into next week’s Wembley final against Warrington Wolves two points clear at the top of the Betfred Super League.

Saints thought they had given themselves a way back into the match through Lewis Murphy’s spectacular dive into the corner in the 56th minute, only for the video referee to rule the score out after it had been sent up as a try on field.

Yet while head coach Wellens was unhappy with the decision, he was critical of his own side’s failings, too.

“Yeah, I do [think it was a try], but we’re used to those calls,” Wellens told Sky Sports. “When things are going against you, those decisions tend to go against you too.

“We lost the physical battle first and foremost, and then we didn’t respond when things were going against us.

“That’s a big improvement area for us. We’ve had a couple of weeks when everything has gone our way and it’s great when it does.

“But if you want to be a champion team you’ve got to handle it when things don’t go your way.”

St Helens went into the match having scored convincing wins against an out-of-form Catalans Dragons and struggling Huddersfield Giants.

Although they remain in the play-off places for now, the 10-time Super League champions are 10 points behind table-toppers Hull KR following the loss at Sewell Group Craven Park.

“We need to be more consistent in what we do,” Wellens, whose side travel to bottom side Salford Red Devils next on June 15, said.

“We asked the group for a response at half time and I thought we were much better with our defensive work in the second half.

“But it’s scant consolation right now.”