COACH Justin Holbrook saw at first hand where the saying ‘Never write off the Saints’ comes from.

He was speaking after seeing Saints produce a remarkable comeback against the Salford Red Devils to snatch a 25-24 victory.

Salford looked on course for their first victory on St Helens soil since 1980 when they led 24-8 with eight minutes to play.

But once Saints threw caution to the wind and attacked, and crucially got that first score, they developed a belief and momentum that had seemed unlikely for the previous 72 minutes.

Holbrook said: “I’m just as excited as the players to see that kind of finish. And what an environment as it should be after a finish like that.

“It is easy to say now but Longy can vouch for me too. I was confident with four minutes to go last week that we could win, but we didn’t get it done, and today I knew if we got the ball back from the short kick off we would have a chance.

“Once we got one I thought we had a chance and the way it finished was fantastic.

“There is a saying here - Never write off the Saints – and it was great to see that myself tonight.”

Without breaking any pots Saints had led 8-2, and bombed another score, but fell to a soft try on the half time hooter and then the Red Devils tightened their grip, with Todd Carney’s kicking game turning the screw.

Holbrook added: “We got the points against great opposition. I thought we were unlucky at half time.

“We dropped one over the line and if we had hung on to the last play then we could have led 14-2.

“In the first half we played really well because we had to do a lot of defending again.

“The second half was all Salford, they completed every set and they didn’t give us a chance. We had to earn it.

“Then with seven minutes to go we got an opportunity but it was gutsy.”

Saints had been dominated for a good chunk of the last 50 minutes, but Holbrook was pleased to see the team’s resolve.

He said: “Since I have come here I have been happy with the boys’ character, attitude and how they want to learn.

“I always said we would get better each week. It was great to see the belief in them to be able to finish like that.

“It was some kick from Matty. Even for Louie to think to throw it and get it to Matty, that was great. Matty felt it was over as he ran 30 metres the other way as soon as it left his boot.

“I’m really happy for him.

"He didn’t have the best game last week but good players stand up in big moments and that was as good as it gets."