Danny Richardson has been reflecting on a whirlwind season after he was named in the 2018 Dream Team for the first time.
He was selected alongside half back teammate Jonny Lomax and five other Saints.
“I am over the moon and very happy,” he said. “It is a massive achievement for me and one I am very proud of.
“At the start of the year I didn’t know what the plan was for me. I was training in pre-season alongside Matty Smith – a great player who has done it all in the game. We were both training hard and I wasn’t sure if he would be at seven or I would be, or whether I could have been at six.
“I just focused on as training as hard as I could and if I got in the starting team then it was my job to stay there. Justin gave me a chance and we managed to win the first game. I said to myself afterwards that if we kept on winning and I worked hard and did my job then there was no reason why I would be taken out of the team.
“That is pretty much how the year has gone and I am very grateful.”
He continued: “The first time I had partnered with Jonny (Lomax) was in that first game and I feel as the year has gone on we have become more accustomed to each other and moulded to how each other plays. We feel comfortable playing with each other; Jonny is a class act and an England international.
“Jonny is a deep thinker but I know some people look at me and think I’m not. At the end of the day I am as much a winner as anyone else.
“If I have a bad game it can be at least three days before I get out of my mood. People don’t see that side of me, but like I said, myself and Jonny work on the pitch and that is the main thing.
“If you get two halves who are similar to each other it can go against you. You have to find a middle ground and it is tough to find one that just clicks. We were lucky; we clicked and know where each other is going to be.”
Saints will hope that partnership clicks once again this Thursday as Warrington come to the Totally Wicked Stadium in the Semi-Final.
“Hopefully Thursday’s game isn’t like the last one which really went down to the wire!” Danny added. “We have beaten them three times this season but know that doesn’t count for anything. We will be making sure that we are preparing for them at their best, because that is what they will be bringing.
“We are under no illusions; those games mean nothing anymore and we will be fully focused on getting the win and moving on to the Grand Final.”
The game kicks off at 7:45pm at the Totally Wicked Stadium and you can secure your spot by calling into the Ticket Office, tel: 01744 455 052 or online here.
