By STEVE MASCORD
TOULOUSE have humiliated St Helens at home, nilling them there for the first time in Super League history and bundling Saints out of the top six for good measure.
From the moment new recruit Jed Cartwright knocked on shortly after the kick-off and Mathieu Jussaume scored the first of his three tries – there was some doubt over it – Paul Rowley’s side was swamped.
Their eventual 46-0 defeat has them in danger of missing the Super League play-offs for the firs time ever
“It stunk from start to finish,” Rowley told Sky Sports. “Giving up is not acceptable.”
Saints also lost winger Owen Dagnall to what looks like a serious knee injury. Going into the match, a loss by more than 24 points would allow Leigh to overtake St Helens and claim sixth spot.
When Romeo Tropis’ touchdown in the 69th minute made it 34-0, the crowd started leaving. Not long after, Jussaume completed his hat-trick.
Sylvain Houles’ men played a heady mix of ebuliant ball movement and control, backing it up with defence so determined that forwards were running down Saints’ most fleet-footed backs.
“Embarrassing, really,” said Rowley.
“With Owen now that’s 16 first team players (injured) so there’s mitigation so there’s mitigation for performance.
“But giving up is not acceptable and there was definitely some of that going on, in the back end (of the game) in particular.
“Some things are non-negotiable and some things don’t take talent. Effort doesn’t need talent.
“Fundamentally in every facet… whether it was execution, we were rubbish. Whether it was effort, rubbish, attitude: rubbish.
“Obviously there are exceptions to that but as a group … it’s a team sport and we all cop it and that’s me included.”
TOULOUSE 46Â (Jussaume 3 Tropis Ulberg Chan O’Kane Laguerre tries Shorrocks 7 goals) beat ST HELENS 0 at Brewdog Stadium.
Teams:
SAINTS: Jack Welsby; Owen Dagnall, Harry Robertson, Nene MacDonald, Jacob Douglas; Tristan Sailor, Jackson Hastings; Jacob Host, Jake Burns, Daniel Suluka-Fifita; Jed Cartwright, Jake Davies, Joe Shorrocks. Res: Curtis Sironen, Tom Humphreys, Matty Evans, Christopher Matagi.
TOULOUSE: Olly Ashall-Bott; Benjamin Laguerre, Luke Polselli, Romeo Tropsis, Paul Ulberg; Thomas Lacans, Jake Shorrocks; James Roumanos, Lambert Belmas, Brendan Hands; Rob Butler, Henry O’Kane, Mathieu Jussaume, Joe Cator. Res: Anthony Marrion, Tiaki Chan, John Toleafoa, Louis Grossemy.
Referee: Aaron Moore.
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