LUKE Walsh has set down an early marker that he aims to prove a few points this year after taking a fair bit of flak last season.

The 28-year-old Australian, who off contract at the end of the season, had a patchy 2015 after a slow recovery from the hideous leg break and ankle problems affected his performance.

But Friday night’s string-pulling masterclass showed why Keiron Cunningham wants to keep the former Penrith Panthers scrum half at Langtree Park.

Although Walsh’s form will be a key factor in deciding how much Saints achieve this season, that will inevitably catch the attention of the NRL clubs.

Cunningham said the future was in Walsh’s hands.

He said: “Luke is a great player and a great talent and he is somebody I would love to keep around if I possibly could.

“That is how highly I regard him – he is a great player and the boys enjoy playing alongside him.

“He is one of our leaders and it would be sad if we lose him, but if he has ambitions to go back to the NRL then I can’t stop that.

“I would love him to stay and have made him openly aware of that, but he will be having conversations with his missus and so we will see where he decides to lay his hat.”

It was not just on the ball where Walsh looked in control, defensively - an area highlighted as a weakness - he looked strong and twice stopped powerful wing Jermaine McGillvary in his tracks.

“Walsh came up and got McGilvary twice and that is a good sign for us as a club.

“Luke has trained really well this pre-season and more than anyone else has got points to prove with everyone in the rugby league world, especially with social media.

“He took a bit of flak last season, but has trained hard and is on his way, if he continues, to proving those points.”

It was no wonder Cunningham was so glowing in his praise after spending weeks mulling over the ideal combination for his halves with Theo Fages and Travis Burns also in the equation as partners.

It seemed to work a treat.

“Walsh was brilliant. I have never seen anyone as focused as Walshy in pre-season.

“He has taken the bull by the horns, and it was about finding the right pairing for him, which was the biggest key.

“You have to get the balance right and that has been a tough old tussle in pre-season trying to pick it.

“Hopefully we have found it with Jordan Turner, and if not we have a couple more to shoot with.

“Luke and JT worked really well together and are both dominant figures which helps the whole team.

“Luke, when playing with other people, feels like he has to take the burden of the whole team – but playing with Jordan really helped him.”

Turner crossed for his 100th career try on Friday night and his powerful running on to the ball and threat near to the Huddersfield line kept the Giants defence on their toes.

Cunningham added: “Jordan is a genuine running threat too - he is a big, quick man and when he carries the ball he has sides worried.

“That is something we can exploit - on top of that JT understands the game and has a really good kicking game.

“If it keeps working then I will keep going with it.”

Cunningham was delighted with the overall approach of his team with a lot of focus being on keeping hold of the ball and cutting out the daft play four penalties that had cost them dearly in games last term.

Despite the torrential rain and slippery ball, Saints produced a controlled display that helped them stay on top.

“In the second half our completion rate was 100 per cent.

“To do that at the best of times is good, but in those conditions it was remarkable.

“That is what wins you games.

“I said at half time penalties and errors is what wins the game.”

Cunningham revealed that the players were not too sore after their first game on account of the amount of opposed sessions they had done in the off season.

That has helped, particularly given the short turnaround between Friday and Thursday.