SAINTS coach Keiron Cunningham pulled no punches when analysing the side's defeat, in conversation with the Star's Mike Critchley.

MC: Was Saturday's game a tough one to review?

KC: It was quite hard because it was disappointing in certain areas.

Defensively we were pretty good, but there were certain individuals who were off and they have been for a few weeks.

There is going to be a time for a change or two to try and freshen things up and bring in a bit more enthusiasm into that middle for us.

MC: In relation to the halves was it a worry that they were unable to make use of the one man advantage?

KC: Well, we scored the try that was disallowed and had the one that Matty Dawson should have scored. If those two had counted it is a different game.

We just let ourselves down with certain aspects of ball retention, game management and pass selection – all those little things. But it didn’t help that we were on the back of a 16-7 penalty count.

Scott Dureau controlled the game, with his kicking,much better than my halves did at times and that was the difference in the first half.

In the second half we had had our chances and should have won the game despite not being too great.

MC: Does it bother you that England’s best hooker and two NRL half backs could not take control of that game?

KC: It does not worry me. When myself, Longy, Scully and Wello played, out of your key positions you generally needed two of them going good and firing.

At the weekend Quinny (Adam Quinlan) had an off day and he has been going great, the halves and Robes had off days. Walshy did lots of good stuff but did not manage the game well enough at times.

It was the same with Burnsy, but he was not consistently managing the game.

It doesn’t worry me in the slightest. The concern is raised because it is off the back of the Leeds semi defeat – if we had gone straight from Hull KR to France then nobody would be concerned.

People seem to be panicking about things – we played Leeds, a great side, and were not far off. Then flew off to a side where we usually struggle.

We got the tough end of the stick we got beat by Leeds in the cup and then had to jump on a plane. Catalans and Hull are teams that are desperate for points.

Leeds will get them both is a few weeks time when their season are over when they have no chance of making top four and are playing kids.

MC: That aside, these are games you have got to win.

KC: Yes, points against Catalans are just as important as ones against Hull. This is what I told my players - they can’t wait for the big games to perform. Every one of these seven matches are big games. We need to finish as high as we possibly can. – for one, you have to be top four and don’t want to be scraping into that. And two, you want to get in the top two to get a home tie.

MC: Freshen up the middle? Does that mean you are leaving players out, bringing in new ones?

KC: We may do. Some of those middles have not missed a game all year and maybe need a freshen up and maybe a kick up the backside won’t do anyone any harm. There will be a couple of people who won’t play this week.

MC: There was a noticeable lack of drive when Alex Walmsley was off the pitch.

KC: Big Al has been phenomenal, but the other three best forwards on the pitch were the three kids – Andre, Greg and Tommo. For me reputation stands for nothing whatsoever. It does not win you games – hard work, effort and form wins you games.

I am task master – the same as everyone else – and we are at a big club. When you set your standards at Saints, the same as Leeds and Wigan, if you drop below them it really stands out. We all expect more. It is a big club, expectation is high and that is why we are.

MC: Like Catalans, Hull are similarly clinging to the mathematical possibilities of their season.

KC: We are in a really good spot, but we can’t be reliant on our four-point buffer – we want to shoot for the stars. That is what the great sides do – we want to be a great side, but we are still young and learning.

The more big games we play in the better, more rounded squad we will have. We are not far off.

MC: How did the travelling there and back in a day work?

KC: Brilliant. I dislike the Catalans trip – not the environment, or the fans. I just hate the waiting around, getting there on Thursday, train Friday and them wait around, then waiting all day Saturday. People eating things they do not normally eat when it gets shoved out on a buffet. It is just alien to the players.

This time was good – we got into the hotel for noon, the boys had rooms and could sleep pre-match and then straight on the bus the game. It was two hours flying – less than going to Hull. The only downside was the plane was tiny and I am not the best flyer – but I will take that one for the team.

MC: After the Hull KR game a few commented ‘Who needs Jon Wilkin?’ Games like Saturday’s maybe showed the need for leadership on the field.

KC: These are the games where you need your leaders. He is not far off now, so we are looking at Leeds away.

Wilko is a great leader who does all his talking on the field. He competed hard and his second is second to none.

People questioned why I made him captain and these are the times you realise what a leader does for your team. He is a genuine leader.