St Helens players and staff will be ‘questioning everything’ following their fifth consecutive Super League loss, according to former England international Kevin Brown. Brown, who assessed their 46-4 defeat to Leigh Leopards, highlighted the gravity of the situation and the impact it may have on the team’s morale and performance.
St Helens players and staff are set to be ‘questioning everything’ after suffering their fifth consecutive Super League defeat, according to former England international Kevin Brown. Brown’s comments followed St Helens’ heavy 46-4 loss to Leigh Leopards, where Leigh scored eight tries, amplifying the pressure on head coach Paul Wellens.
This defeat marks the first time St Helens have lost five games in a row since 1986, underscoring the depth of their current struggles. Injuries have heavily impacted the team’s performance, with star full-back Jack Welsby leaving the field after just four minutes due to a hamstring injury. Wellens has indicated that Welsby’s recovery could take months rather than weeks.
With Salford and Catalans potentially moving ahead of St Helens with their matches, Wellens’ side is in danger of slipping further down the table, sitting just two points inside the playoffs in sixth position. Former club captain Jon Wilkin, reflecting on the situation, described the team’s current form as a significant understatement, a sentiment echoed by Sky Sports host Brian Carney.
St Helens players and staff will be ‘questioning everything’ after their fifth straight Super League loss according to former England international Kevin Brown with the ex-Wire man assessing their shocking 46-4 loss to Leigh Leopards.
Leigh ran in eight tries as they put St Helens to the sword and helped pile the pressure on underfire coach Paul Wellens. The loss marked the first time that Saints have lost five games in a row since 1986, showcasing what a huge lull the club are going through.
Much of this run of form can be attributed to a terrible injury problem and that only worsened last night with star full-back Jack Welsby leaving the field after just four minutes due to a hamstring injury that Paul Wellens has revealed could have a recovery time of months as opposed to weeks.
Wins for Salford and Catalans today would see each side go ahead of the Saints, leaving Wellens’ side just two points inside the playoffs in sixth position. It’s such a poor and uncharacteristic run of form that former club captain Jon Wilkin struggled to surmise it.
Speaking on Sky Sports after Warrington’s huge victory over Wigan, Wilkin simply stated: “Yeah, and they’re just not there are they,” prompting host Brian Carney to label Wilkin’s thoughts as an “understatement”.
St Helens in “uncharted territory”
Credit: Imago Images
Losing to 12-man Warrington Wolves was previously considered a low point for St Helens, but their subsequent defeat to Leigh Leopards has now overshadowed that performance. In the game against Leigh, the Leopards exposed St Helens’ weaknesses across the field, scoring eight tries and demonstrating a comprehensive dominance that further highlighted the depth of the team’s current crisis. This latest loss has intensified scrutiny on the club’s management and players, exacerbating their struggle to regain form and secure a playoff spot.
Jon Wilkin’s critique, highlighting that St Helens are far from their expected standards, echoes Kevin Brown’s concerns about the team’s dramatic fall from their previous heights. The loss to Leigh Leopards, described by Brown as a “huge downfall,” underscores the significant mental and strategic challenges facing the club.
Brown points out that the repeated losses and the nature of the defeat against Leigh will leave players and staff deeply questioning their approach and performance. The mental toll of five consecutive losses, culminating in a heavy defeat, adds to the mounting pressure on St Helens.
As they prepare for their next fixture against Hull FC, who recently secured a notable victory over Wigan, the doubts about St Helens’ ability to turn their fortunes around are growing. The upcoming match against Hull FC will be critical for St Helens to demonstrate resilience and begin reversing their troubling form.