NATHAN Brown believes lifting the League Leaders Shield would be just reward for the players and the fans.
But first and foremost he is squarely focussed on the challenge Warrington present when the sides meet this Thursday.
Saints come into the match knowing one point would hand them the Shield for the first time since 2008.
“Taking the League Leaders Shield would be a good reward for the players,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of injuries, there aren’t many worse than us really, and we have found ways to win.
“It would be a good reward for the playing group sticking together and having belief in times of adversity. It would be good for the fans too. There are three trophies available and to get one of them would be a good start for the club moving forward.”
Saints head into Thursday’s clash without Mark Percival who was concussed in the win over Leeds.
Adam Swift will return and it’s likely Gary Wheeler will also be included in the 19 man squad.
“Mark Percival won’t play this week,” Brown continued. “It’s touch and go as to whether he can play but it is probably in his best interests not to.
“I’ve seen the tackle and I think the ref got it right. When you look at it in slow motion you can see Joel (Moon) got it wrong and the ref got it right and now we move on. Joel isn’t a malicious player.
“I thought it was brilliant the way the players stuck together. The first 20 minutes before they lost Joel I thought it was a superb game. The way Leeds started the contest was terrific and I thought we were too.
“That incident took a little away from how good the game was before it. They then got penalties and kicked well and we let ourselves down with our discipline. At 12-2 they were in control but we wrestled the game back.
“Thursday will be a tough game. There’s no score to settle (from Magic). We got a great result in the first round and they did the next time. It can happen when all the good sides play each other.
“One can be on top of their game and another off and results like that can happen. I would be disappointed if there weren’t two sides here wanting to play this week.
“There have been a lot of twists and turns in the league this year. Warrington had a super three month period; at the beginning it was us, then Leeds, Wigan have had a spell as have Huddersfield and Castleford too.
“The competition is more open than ever before and there are so many sides that can play well. I said earlier in the season that Cas weren’t and wouldn’t be a flash in the pan. Then you have Wigan, Leeds, Huddersfield, Warrington… Catalan have put 40 on a few teams over recent weeks and then Widnes knocked over a full strength Wigan team.
“The reality for us is in the past four weeks we have changed the way we have played and it is all about getting better so when we come into the playoffs we are as prepared as we can be.”
Tickets for Thursday’s game are now on sale from the Ticket Office at Langtree Park, by calling 01744 455 052 or by logging on here.
