WHAT a difference a week makes.

Shambolic seven days ago during their cup exit, Saints raised their game for new boss Justin Holbrook to rattle in eight unanswered tries in the 45-0 victory to delight their delirious travelling fans.

There was a lot to like about the performance - particularly the way they lifted themselves off the canvas from last week's drubbing to pulverise a shell-shocked Hull FC side.

Spearheading that was Alex Walmsley, who was an absolute tower of strength with the energy and aggression he put into his carries.

It meant that for the first time in a long while Saints won the collision, allowing James Roby the freedom to run from dummy half and giving the halves scope to direct operations and move the ball.

It resulted in attacking performance that was a breath of fresh air, but as equally pleasing was the defensive resolve.

Saints kept the line intact for 80 minutes, with no dropping off, even when the game was in the bag.

Saints got the ball rolling on 14 minutes after a nip and tuck opening in which they had slowly, but resolutely, got on top.

After Roby had gone close, Walmsley took a short ball to power and twist his way over.

And they did not rest on their laurels, with Walmsley's thunderous charge putting Saints back on the front foot allowing Matty Smith to pick his spot for Ryan Morgan to catch and ground.

Percival added his second conversion to put Saints 12-0 up.

The Saints fans, who had travelled more in hope than expectation, must have been rubbing their eyes in disbelief when Smith's bomb was fluffed by the Hull defence under pressure of the chase allowing loose forward Morgan Knowles to juggle and ground.

Saints then had to produce some d festive grit, but they repelled back to back sets and kept the dangerous Albert Kelly in a box to keep Hull at bay.

On the stroke of half time the shrewd Smith chipped over a drop goal to psychologically kill Hull off a touch more with a four-score lead going into the break.

And the awesome Walmsley powered over for his second on 47 minutes and Saints began to play with a beaming smile on their faces.

Then on 55 minutes it was the turn of a rampant Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook who tore onto ball on the right edge of Hull to chalk up another.

That was all well and good but it was then time for Tommy Makinson,who had done his duty taking the high bombs, to produce the show stopper.

Taking a Hull cross kick 10 metres in front of his own posts Makinson weaved through a clutch of Hull defenders before pinning his ears back.

There was no clear run and he had to shake off a couple of would be tacklers, including one just on the line, to score a spectacular length of the field effort.

It was show time for the back line and a Gidleyesque offload from Percival allowed Regan Grace to dash in at the corner flag.

The young Welshman then did an in and out to cross again to round off an excellent afternoon at Newcastle.

Saints: 2. Tommy Makinson; 5. Adam Swift, 4. Mark Percival, 3. Ryan Morgan, 28. Regan Grace; 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith; 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 36. Zeb Taia, 12. Jon Wilkin, 20. Morgan Knowles.

Subs: 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Tommy Lee.

Hull FC: 1. Jamie Shaul, 4. Josh Griffin, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 25. Jansin Turgut, 19. Steven Michaels; 6. Albert Kelly, 7. Marc Sneyd; 8. Scott Taylor, 9. Danny Houghton, 10. Liam Watts, 21. Sika Manu, 12. Mark Minichiello, 15. Chris Green.

Subs: 16. Jordan Thompson, 17. Daniel Washbrook, 22. Josh Bowden, 28. Brad Fash.