YOUR Saints are Forty-20 magazine’s team of the month for June – the fifth different club to win the accolade this season.
A last-gasp draw in Hull at the start of a month in which unbeaten Saints notched three wins and a draw was followed by the devastating ten-try demolition of crisis-hit Bradford Bulls at Langtree Park.
Saints were then pushed all the way by rising play-off contenders Salford City Reds, before Mike Rush’s side pulled away late on with tries by Jonny Lomax, Michael Shenton and Paul Wellens.
And St Helens ended June as they began it, with another titanic struggle this time at home to Hull Kingston Rovers. After falling behind 26-0 in the opening half-hour, the visitors led 28-26 with just eight minutes remaining. But late tries from Anthony Laffranchi and Tony Puletua spared Saints’ blushes and staved off Super League’s biggest ever blown lead.
“After a relatively quiet season so far, Saints suddenly find themselves third in the Stobart Super League table,” said Forty-20’s editor-at-large Tony Hannan. “If they can come through July in that position or better, they will seriously fancy their chances of reaching Old Trafford for the seventh year running.”
June also saw the emergence of Saints’ latest rising star – Josh Jones. In the four games played, the young centre scored six tries.
At the other end of the age spectrum, Paul Wellens weighed in with five.
