A LOT of the discuss round St Helens in the intervening time surrounds the way forward for Kristian Woolf.
The Saints boss is out of contract on the finish of the present 2022 Betfred Super League season, and has but to publicly decide to any future deal, which unsurprisingly provides to the hypothesis of the place the 46 yr outdated can be in 2023.
It goes with out saying, like each Saints fan on the market I’m hoping he places pen to paper and stays at St Helens for a few years to come back.
His reign up to now has been unprecedented.
Leading the membership to 2 Betfred Super League titles and a Betfred Challenge Cup throughout his two and a half years up to now, and is in pole place to make {that a} hat trick of league titles in 2022, at present 10/11 outright favourites with the title sponsors to just do that.
Kristian Woolf is a needed man…and admittedly I’m not shocked one bit.
The Tonga boss, who may be very effectively revered again in Australia is in demand and being touted for plenty of positions within the NRL, following a couple of teaching casualties this season.
New Zealand Warriors and West Tigers have each been linked with Kristian following the sacking of former Saints and Wigan head coaches, Nathan Brown and Michael Maguire respectively. Canterbury have additionally been talked about within the media Down Under.
The Saints followers completely made their emotions proven in direction of the boss at Thursday’s demolition of the Leeds Rhinos, with the West Stand songsters chanting his title all through the 80 minutes…one thing that wasn’t missed by the common-or-garden Woolf.
He spoke extremely of the followers, and mentioned he’s wholeheartedly dedicated to the membership and is loving what his group are doing in the intervening time.
Personally, I’ve bought to know Kristian over the previous two-and-a-half years and he’s not only a nice coach however a fantastic bloke.
He’s a straight speaking, no nonsense fella, and that is one thing that comes over in his teaching philosophies.
The group in my eyes are, the fittest, most skilful and play with a stage of depth on each assault and defence far better than every other group within the Betfred Super League, one thing clearly instilled by the coach.
Let’s hope this may proceed for a couple of extra years to come back!
Back to Thursday night time, and I predicted a Saints win however perhaps not by 30 factors!
I spoke beforehand concerning the stage of depth that this present Saints group play at, and after a reasonably tight first half this was one thing that the Rhinos couldn’t maintain.
Instead the guests resorted to unwell self-discipline, with but once more former Saint James Bentley seeing a card.
It was a former Rhino, now a Saints fan favorite Konrad Hurrell who stole the present, and his second residence Man of the Match in a row.
Hurrell, who crossed the whitewash twice, was additionally celebrating his new one yr contract extension – completely no shock after his season up to now.
Let’s hope the large man is flying this weekend in what could possibly be the hardest recreation of the season up to now, as we once more journey to the fourth-placed Catalans Dragons.
Always a tricky journey, and any group taking part in in opposition to the Dragons significantly throughout the Channel will all the time increase their recreation.
However I’m backing the boys to do the job so I’m tipping a Saints win by 10 factors or extra (2/1 at Betfred)
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/20241475.saints-skill-fitness-intensity-instilled-kristian-woolf/
