SAINTS coach Justin Holbrook answered Mike Critchley’s questions at the training ground this week.

MC: How has the break been?

JH: It has been good for the players, the first few days after Wakefield we gave them some time off to freshen up knowing that we have got the back end of the year coming.

That was a good break for them physically – but also mentally.

Every week the players are looking at video and the opposition. We are fresh and ready to go.

MC: Was it a convenient juncture to pause and look forward to a finish line that is only six or seven games away?

JH: When you play every week you don’t get a chance to look at things. To have that week off gives you that clear focus for the back end of the year, starting on Friday.

MC: Wigan is a good one to start with, is it preferable coming back in with a real bang?

JH: Yes, we prefer that and it is probably going to be our hardest game this year but that is good for us.

If we are good enough to win, we deserve to be league leaders and that is a good reward for being the most consistent team over the 30 rounds.

It is not the main focus, we understand that we have got to play well in the semi book a place in the final and win that. But it would be a nice bit of recognition for the way the side has played all year.

MC: Does not seem that long since the last Saints v Wigan game, do you have any thoughts on the scheduling?

JH: You never want to play anyone so close together but the face that we have had a week off and it was three or four weeks before that. I think it is ok. It may not be the last time we play them either.

MC: There was a lot of talk last time about how many Wigan had missing, but it still made for a tough encounter.

JH: They had a number out last time, but we were without Percy, Benny and Zeb Taia that day too so we had a few out ourselves. They have got some troops back now and they are a very good side. We understand that.

MC: Looking back at Wembley, any slither of consolation that Saints were beaten by the eventual winners?

JH: Not really. I watched the final and it was really tough to watch. Catalans did to Warrington what they did to us at the start.

It was just disappointing not to be there.

It is good that all the focus is back to Super League where you are rewarded for your whole year's effort.