SAINTS won the Karalius Cup for the first time in three years, but the 16-0 win over Widnes could have come at some cost.

New signing Matty Smith was helped off at half time with a leg injury sustained in the last play of the first half, putting a dampener on proceedings.

Although Saints started off with a strong 13, they gradually dripped in the substitutions towards the end of the first half and then there was wholesale changes in the second half.

They started brightly and opened the scoring on 11 minutes when half back Theo Fages slipped two tacklers and pierced the line with new boy Ryan Morgan up in support.

The former Melbourne and Parramatta centre dashed in from 20 metres, with Smith tacking on the conversion.

That's how it stayed until half time, but a youthful looking Saints took the bull by the horns pretty early on after the restart.

A kick to the left caused pandemonium on the Vikings line, with centre Jake Spedding cashing in with the touchdown.

Saints tackled heroically in the second half, often scrambling to keep the line intact, epitomised by the way Ricky Bailey and Regan Grace foiled Corey Thompson in the corner on the hour.

Four minutes later Danny Craven dashed over, but the referee called the forward pass.

Saints made sure on 70 minutes when the quick-thinking young half Danny Richardson placed a clever diagonal grubber hit the post padding and was swooped upon by Fages.

Richardson's goal made it 16-0.

Although there were plenty of positives with the way the team knitted together in the first half and then showed resilience in the second, the wait to assess Smith's injury will cast a shadow over the triumph.

Saints: 1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith; 14. Luke Douglas, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Joe Greenwood, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 12. Jon Wilkin.

Subs: 8. Alex Walmsley, 15. Adam Walker, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Tommy Lee, 19. Greg Richards, 20. Morgan Knowles, 21. Jack Owens, 22. Matty Fleming, 23. Jack Ashworth, 24. Danny Richardson, 25. Ricky Bailey, 26. Jake Spedding, 27. Calvin Wellington, 28. Regan Grace, 30. Jonah Cunningham, 31. Aaron Smith.

Vikings: 1. Rhys Hanbury; 2. Corey Thompson, 26. Tom Armstrong, 4. Charly Runciman, 17. Stefan Marsh; 32. Danny Craven, 7. Tom Gilmore; 15. Gil Dudson, 31. Jordan Johnstone, 10. Jack Buchanan, 12. Matt Whitley, 11. Chris Houston, 19. Macgraff Leuluai.

Subs: 5. Patrick Ah Van, 20. Manase Manuokafoa, 22. Ted Chapelhow, 23. Jay Chapelhow, 24. Sam Brooks, 25. Tom Olbison, 28. Ryan Ince, 29. Brad Walker, 42. Danny Walker.