JAMIE Lyon's magnificent example of centre play was again the talking point among the Knowsley Road faithful as Saints handed out another 60-point thrashing to the Wildcats.

In a modern game where so many centres rely on brawn to break the defensive line out wide and perhaps regard their wingers as something of an after-thought, the Australian is the epitome of the centre who wingers must love to play outside.

The manner in which Lyon created Saints' second try of this win, drawing in three Trinity defenders before creating space for himself with quick footwork and lofting a pass out to his unopposed wing partner Albert, was breathtaking stuff.

In the second half, meanwhile, he demonstrated the destructive speed which seems to have gathered by the month since his arrival in January following a stint in Australian country rugby with his hometown side. After juggling the ball on halfway from a Vinnie Anderson pass he outpaced the cover before rounding full-back Colum Halpenny to go in at the left of the posts at the Eddington end.

Lyon's man-of the match performance came on night when Saints' attacking combinations were as fluid as they have been in several matches. Darren Albert raced in for a hat-trick while captain Sean Long kicked ten out of ten conversions on the night for a personal points tally of 24.

The display, in a week when Paul Sculthorpe was ruled out of action until next season, backed coach Daniel Anderson's claims that Saints have the squad to offset the loss of their captain.

Not that this win was as easy as the big score suggests. Wakefield competed well in the first half and were unlucky to go in at half-time 18-4 down.

After Paul March missed a reasonably easy penalty attempt to put Trinity in front, Saints broke the deadlock on 12 minutes with a route-one try. First prop Nick Fozzard charged at the line and then from his quick-play the ball hooker Keiron Cunningham sent a reverse pass from acting half back to send over fellow front-rower Paul Anderson.

Wakefield countered with both Ben Jeffries and David Solomona a potent threat in attack and Halpenny crossed the line but was held up by solid defence.

When Saints pressed though, they were more ruthless and Lyon's magic made the next score for Albert after 20 minutes. From the touchline Long went in the post goaled in off the post.

The visitors deservedly responded six minutes later with winger Michael Wainwright diving in after swift hands had created an overlap.

The dependable Wellens prevented the lead from being cut further with a strong try-saving tackle on Ben Jeffries. And moments later the Great Britain international was instrumental in Saints next score.

His delightful delayed pass put Jon Wilkin through a gap and the second rower found try scorer Long trailing back on the inside.

Wakefield could have had a right to feel deflated with the first half score and though their coach Tony Smith said afterwards he had no gripes with his side's performance defensively they fell away considerably in the second half.

A minute after the interval Paul Wellens touched down after Wilkin up and under. Then on 45minutes the head-bandaged Lyon cruised home for his first of the evening.

The plucky Wildcats held on, but their resolve was shattered shortly after the hour when Lyon followed up a Long grubber to register his brace and 22nd try of the season.

From there Saints cut loose and Cronulla-bound Albert, supporting on the left flank, roared home for two tries to complete his hat-trick and take his try tally for the season up to 24.

Inside the last two minutes sub James Roby backed up a Long break to score while James Graham finished off following breaks by loose-forward Vinnie Anderson and Maurie Fa'asavalu.

Saints: Wellens, Albert, Lyon, Talau, Gardner, Hooper, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, P. Anderson, Bennett, Wilkin, V.Anderson. Subs: Roby, Graham, Fa'asavalu, Gilmour

Wakefield: Halpenny, Wainwright, Domic, Henderson, Tadulala, Jeffries, Obst, Griffin, March, Korkidas, Solomona, Macgillivary, Field. Subs: Elima, Feather, Feather, Wrench, Spicer.

Star Man: Lyon

Attendance: 8,153