JAMAHL Lolesi has been reflecting on events at the Saints as they prepare to face Wigan this Friday.
He joins a set up that includes Sean Long and Derek Traynor who have been put in interim charge until a new coach is in place.
“The events of the last couple of days have been sad and hard as KC is such a good person who has given 24 years of his life to the club. It was hard for everyone at the club, the chairman Eamonn McManus and Chief Exec Mike Rush.
“Results haven’t been what we have wanted them to be – we haven’t been good enough and that includes myself and the playing group. No one was working harder than Kez to turn it around but it didn’t work out. We all have to take some responsibility for what happened over the course of the season.
“The players were visibly upset but understand it is a business and the show must go on. We face a tough game on Friday.
“I wouldn’t think they need any motivation for the game. They have always been good tussles. Our role is to make sure the players understand their roles and we give them a nice gameplan to go and get the win.
“If I was playing I would have preferred to have a tough game after what has happened and Wigan, and then Cas, it doesn’t get any harder than that. It will be a good test of the squad and the players. We will get a look at who wants to stand up and fight for the badge.”
He continued: “It is quite hard to change this things in a week. It’s unfair to say you can come in and play a totally different style. Changes like that don’t happen in a week. Myself, Sean and Derek are there to make sure they are focused on the game coming up. We want no confusion and a nice and simple gameplan which we can go out and try and execute the best we can.
“We haven’t changed a whole lot, only a couple of things that will allow the guys to get more momentum coming out of the back end of the field – and get us up the other end and score some points.”
Jamahl, Sean and Derek could be in the coaching role for the rest of the season as the club won’t be looking for a short term fix.
The only appointment will be one for the longer term and not just for this season.
Jamahl added: “We all bounce our ideas off each other. There are no disagreements; we just work with each other and try and figure out what is best for the squad. We have to play a style that suits the players we have and we might not figure that out in a week. It might take longer.
“If you look at the season, the style didn’t have us off too many games. We were in a tight tussle in all of them but it might not have been good enough to win games, or for the standards at the club because of the success in the past. We can change it little bit but it won’t be a quick fix – it is something that needs to be done over a period of time.
“Our job is to get the squad playing the best they can over the next couple of weeks or until the next man comes in.
“It’s important not to lose sight of what we are trying to do as coaches. We are paid to make them play the best they can to win games and finals. If we are here for a week, two weeks or six months until a new guy comes in then the plan doesn’t change.
“It is to get this group to play to a standard to win games and trophies. That is what we are trying to do as coaches.”
Jamahl said that Sean Long will probably take more control over the attack given his experience as a half back whilst he will look at defence and bounce ideas around the coaching team.
Derek Traynor will oversee that and Paul Wellens will be “another set of eyes in video review work and on the sidelines.”
Saints take on Wigan this Friday at the DW Stadium (12:15pm) before hosting Castleford Tigers on Monday (3pm).
Tickets are on sale from the Ticket Office at the Totally Wicked Stadium, by calling 01744 455 052 or online here.
