IN early 1996 Keiron Cunningham was a fledgling 19-year-old hooker when he barrelled his way past three Wigan defenders to score a try in the last ever Regal Trophy final.

Although Saints lost that game 25-16 Cunningham was one of the crop of determined young players, alongside a core of maturing linchpins, that gave the club high hopes for future success.

The similarities between that squad – which went on to take out the inaugural Super League title and win at Wembley for the first time in 20 years – and the one that Cunningham inherits as head coach, are striking.

Nobody expects a continuation of that success to simply fall into place – and the gains of this season will have to be fought for again – but Saints have a strong base to attack 2015 with Cunningham at the helm, not least because they have lost that tag as perennial Grand Final bridesmaids.

Cunningham reflected: “When we made the Regal Trophy Final in 1996 we had always been a nearly side and had lived in Wigan’s shadow for so long.

“We went to Huddersfield that afternoon and gave Wigan a shock that day. I was a baby really, but I scored a try and got the man of the match. Although we lost that day it was a springboard for us as a club.

“And looking at the squad of today, even before the Grand Final win, I felt finishing first this year and simply making it to Old Trafford was going to have a similar springboard for this team because the likes of Greg Richards, Mark Percival, Luke. Thompson and Tommy Makinson – go through the full side - have grown up watching St Helens through super eras all had their chance to lift the league leaders Shield and be part of a Grand Final.

“They have experienced lifting the Super League title – there is no better springboard.

“People say it is pressure – I don’t think that way - it will be good for us and help us move forward.

“Now we know how to win things - we had forgotten to do that because we had been so far away from our last victory.”

Cunningham’s appointment completes the transition that has taken him from player, captain, strength and conditioning coach, assistant boss to the top job.

He has earned legendary status as a player, being the only Saint to be part of all the great summer era triumphs.

And he added to that legend with his sterling displays during the last days of Knowsley Road when he was hailed King Keiron by the adoring Popular Side, going on to win the ballot of fans to have a player cast in bronze.

Despite what some would describe as Cunningham’s relative inexperience as a coach, it is one he has been preparing for since his playing days.

He explained: “Me and Sean (Long) took our badges together we always knew what we wanted to do – we knew we were smart players but transferring that into a coach was difficult to do at first.

“A lot of great players fall down because they did not understand the transition.

“I have been working 12 hours a day for the past four years and some people don’t see that – they maybe see me as a past player who has been given the job as a favour.

“That is not what I am about – I have worked a lot of very long hours and think I have earned my stripes.

“I have taken my time with it and Browny has taught me so much in a short period.

“He is a good close family friend and the families get on well and I will be going out to Australia at some point to catch up with him.

“I am going to miss him – part of me is happy that he has gone because it means I get the job but a big part of me is going to miss him because he was a true friend and we had a good laugh in the office. We worked well together.”

With the junior members of the squad back in training, and the new recruits on board, Cunningham’s work has already begun with his customary family holiday in Florida put to one side on this occasion while he gets things in order.

But in a job comprising long hours he said he will make sure he has time for his family – particularly with his wife also being busy at work, his son at college and his daughter over at University However he is bursting with pride at being given the opportunity to coach his hometown club - a job he is relishing, particularly because he knows he can rely on the support of the senior players in the ranks.

In particular he cited the input of skipper Paul Wellens, James Roby, Jonny Lomax and Jon Wilkin as being key to continue developing the club’s winning culture.

He had praise for the example shown by injured forward Jon Wilkin in the weeks building up to Old Trafford.

Cunningham said: “Jon Wilkin put his honeymoon with his wife back – which meant his wife flew out to Mauritius on her own and he stayed here until the final was over. He was injured and not going to play but he organised everything.

“He was in tears in the dressing room before the game, but this is what it means to these players.

“I have been around self-centred players who would have gone at a heartbeat and not been part of that.

“But this is the St Helens mentality that we talk about and what I have been trying to bring to the club.

“It is made easier because you have players who are all part of this great culture and we are creating a new one ourselves.”