ROYCE Simmons has stated how important it is to get a win as soon as possible as he prepares for this Friday’s match against Hull FC.
Although Saints were much improved in their last run out, they still failed to pick up any points – and that’s something Saints’ Head Coach is acutely aware of.
“It is very important to get a win now,” he said. “Outside the game against Wigan we should have won two of our last three games and if we suffer another defeat again people then the press, fans and family can start to question what is happening and you can lose concentration.
“But if we gain a win then on the back of a strong performance against Warrington we can get on a bit of a roll.
“We want to go into the playoffs in good form and the higher you finish up the league the more opportunities you have in that competition.
“We want to be going in there playing well with a reasonably full and fit squad.
“The match against Hull will be very tough. They play an aggressive game which suits them and they have won their last three. They are now in the eight and we want to stay in the four. Both sides have a lot to play for.”
Michael Shenton has been named in Saints’ 19-man squad for the game with Matty Ashurst also coming in to the reckoning.
“Mick hasn’t trained much but we will give him a bit of a run later in the week,” Simmons added. “He is very doubtful though. Sia went alright in the centres last week, but we’d prefer him a little bit closer where his aggression can be used a little more.
“There’s no doubt we are getting better and we still have five senior players to come back in. The combinations from hooker to half backs and so forth will continue to gel.
“We know we can improve and react differently at times depending on what happens in matches. Sometimes we let bad calls get to us and we drop our heads – we can use them as a motivator.
“Things went against us last Friday, we know that. From the charge down to hitting the crossbar from the restart and the forward pass into the corner for their second try.
“Then the obstruction try went against us too. But at the end of the day they got more points than us.
“But we’ll continue to get better and nothing has been won yet.”
Tickets for the match agaisnt Hull, which kicks off at 8pm at the Stobart Stadium this Friday, are still on sale.
You can buy the at the Saints Ticket Office in St Helens Town Centre, by calling 01744 455 052 or by logging on to www.saintssuperstore.com
