SAINTS boss Keiron Cunningham answers the questions posed by the Star’s senior sports writer Mike Critchley.

MC: Friday’s game got off to a false start with the injury delay – but you got there.

KC: There was a big build up and the players were really excited and focused. It was a good carry by big Al and the tackler just got his head in the wrong place. For the next ten minutes the boys were just hanging about, trying to stay focused and they did great. The following sets were really good but after Swifty’s knock on from a poor pass we fell into a little bit of a hole for a period.

I watched the game again on Saturday and it was different – I was happy with a lot of the things we had done, but I would like a bit more of a complete performance.

MC: We saw a new, mean big Alex Walmsley out there – with an outstanding first quarter shift.

KC: I put some challenges towards Alex in the pre-season and he is playing big minutes now compared to last season and I think that helps the cause. He got up to 50 minutes this week which is unheard of for him. I am expecting big things of Alex this year. Touch wood, staying injury free and he could get to the point of playing international this year.

MC: It was good to see the team move the ball and the outside backs back themselves – but given the completion rate early on, do you have to rein some of that in?

KC: I have got faith in my players and their ability to do things, the skill level is really high. There is a fine line though. I can sit in a computer room and cut the video and be the most critical person there can be. I can say ‘If Mark Percival carries the ball correctly there it would have been one of the greatest tries the club has seen for a long time’. That is the brand of rugby I want to play – free flowing and entertaining. We have players with good skill levels so have the ability to do that.

MC: You still have a few players on the sidelines with injury – that will give you a headache when Luke Walsh, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Luke Thompson are fit again.

KC: Someone will have to lose out because what Louie and Tommo offer the team it would be foolish to leave them on the sidelines.

It will be a tough call – but it is one I am prepared to make. I have always said reputation does not hold anything to me. If a junior, like Andre Savelio, is playing better than somebody else – then he is going to be in the team.

Likewise with Joe Greenwood. During the off season Joe was going to go out on loan and I had spoken to Andy Hay at Featherstone, but I watched him in winter and thought this kid has a chance. Then he played in the trial games and was sensational.

My biggest call is going to come when Luke Walsh is fit and Jon Wilkin has to go back into the back row.

MC: It was great to see Andre Savelio get over the line for a first try – he has brought some real enthusiasm to the team.

KC: He is a lovely kid and maybe a little bit misunderstood with some former coaches. I had a meeting with him at the start of the pre-season and told him of my expectations and what I wanted him to do.

The kid has grasped it with two hands. He is training hard and in the best shape I have ever seen him. He is fit and enjoying his rugby and that goes a long way with me. There is a good working environment that brings that out in your kids.