Derek Traynor wants Saints to put in an 80 minute performance when they take on Castleford this Saturday.
He says the loss to Warrington showed the best and worst of the side this season as they ran up a 14 point lead before losing heavily.
“We have been a Jekyll and Hyde team all season and the game on Friday summed up our year,” he said. “You saw the really good side of us and the average side of us too. We were very disappointed after getting into the position we did to concede 30 unanswered points.
“The lads were gutted in the dressing rooms but we didn’t help ourselves with errors and our decision making. They scored twice when we had the ball too.
“Ideally, you’d have wanted to get into the dressing room at half time at least 14 points up. We played well in that opening 25 minutes and could have had more points.
“But you could sense the momentum move towards the end of the half and at 14-6 you’d have wanted to get in, talk and regroup, but they scored again. Then, they started like a whirlwind on the back on another error and ran up the points.”
He continued: “We lost Jon Wilkin in the warm up and he was a miss. He is our captain and an experienced talker and leader on the field. It does affect you but we have to be able to handle these things.
“We have a no excuse policy here and you have to be able to handle what is thrown at you. Morgan Knowles went well there and did a superb job.”
Saints take on Castleford in the Sixth Round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup this Saturday and will take heart from the last time the two sides met.
They handed the Tigers a 26-22 defeat on Easter Monday.
“We have to take confidence from what was our best performance of the season,” Derek added. “We played well against Castleford at our place and know we can compete with them. Going to Castleford is probably the toughest ask in Super League at the moment but we know the ability we have. We just have to show it for 80 minutes on the day.
“We have a few knocks. Ryan Morgan should be ok and that means we have everyone but Jonny Lomax available to pick from.
“Alex Walmsley and Mark Percival will be back too. They came back in on Monday, watched the video of the game with us and then went to sleep off their jet lag. They are quality players, that’s why they were in the England squad, and they will come back in and give everyone a boost.
“I was brought up on the Challenge Cup and I love it. It is a massive occasion and a massive honour for the club and the players to get there and hopefully win it.
“My first Wembley was in 1972 and I still remember walking up the steps and seeing how big it was. It took my breath away the sheer size of it. I am sure the players would love to put their mark on the history at the club.
“We have to go over there, do what we can do for 80 minutes and get into the next round.”
Tickets for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie against Castleford at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle (2:30pm) remain on sale from the Ticket Office at the Totally Wicked Stadium, by calling 01744 455 052 or online here.
