SAINTS boss Keiron Cunningham deals with the attacking pluses, the defensive negatives and praises the input of debutant Adam Quinlan in this week’s Q&A with the Star’s Mike Critchley.

MC: What were the positives from Friday’s win?

KC: With the ball we were phenomenal, with Luke Walsh and Mark Percival sensational.

The flip side was that we knocked off in some areas where we have been exceptionally good and that hurt us.

All credit to the lads, they dug in there and got the win. It was tit-for-tat and sure it was an entertaining game for the supporters, not for myself and coaches.

MC: It was a real-four point win in terms of the table.

KC: A really crucial win. If results had gone against us and had we lost we could have been sat in fifth place and fighting for our life. If you are in the top four it makes it more comfortable in the Super 8s.

MC: The system must be working to slot a full back in seamlessly, for the second time this year.

KC: We work really hard behind the scenes and leave no stone unturned. We want the structures to be regimented so if someone slots in then we know they will be able to do a good job. The reason we targeted Adam Quinlan is because we knew he would fit into the structure really well.

Adam is so unassuming and you would not even think he was a rugby player if you spoke to him. He is a super competitor and I am sure you will see better from him as the season goes on.

MC: He is rapid too, always a bonus?

KC: He is lightning. I knew he was quick but didn’t realise he was that fast. He was pulling away Danny Brough on that last rtry from the Robes break. He has not played at this standard for a while and will take two or three games to get into it. By the time the Super 8s come around you will see the true Adam Quinlan.

MC: Saints v Warrington been good games this year?

KC: At the start of the year at Langtree we were more dominant. The second one at Magic, Warrington were dominant in the first half and we turned it around in the second period. I am glad it was that way round – but I expect it to be very similar.

It is going to be a close encounter between two physical teams that are going to go at it. Whoever controls the middle will win the game.

MC: Warrington have lost half of their games but that Wigan win has turned their season around.

KC: They have found that belief and hope that Tony Smith instils in his sides. They are a great defensive and attacking team, who are difficult to defend against because they don’t play with a stiff structure and they ad-lib and play off the cuff.

MC: Kyle Amor looked in some agony on Friday. Was there anything in that tackle?

KC: It is difficult because as coaches you do coach players to finish tackles off. But am I fan of it? No I am not. Rugby league is the only sport where when a player is put in a vulnerable position, it allows the defence to do whatever they want.

We do play a tough game but we talk about player welfare. It is not OK to shoulder barge someone in the head but it is deemed OK, for example, to try and break someone's ribs or hit someone in the spine and risk paralysing them.

It is not something I teach my players, but it is legal in the game.