SAINTS coach Keiron Cunningham had plenty to say when the Star’s senior sports writer Mike Critchley caught up with him.

MC: The roll call after the match on Friday must have been like the end of Zulu?

KC: It was tough and it just goes to show what a good set of players they are. The atmosphere in the camp is really good – and I am a big believer in that, of players coming into training with a smile on their face.

You see a lot of other stuff that other teams do, where they walk out together and wait for each other at half time, that is just trying to fabricate things for me and we are not about fabrication. Everything we do is real because we care for each other and give a damn about the club and want to do well every week.

Once we get Walshy back out there and get a fully fit team we will be tough to beat.

MC: At 6-0 you had plenty of chances which would have made it an easier night: KC: Yes, there were four chances there and it would have been a different game. When you are 20-0 up you can defend that any day of the week, but when you are 12-6 down at half time and coming out into a bit of a storm, that shows true resilience.

MC: You spend all week preparing your team for the game, the matchday is supposed to be job done for the coach, but the injuries made you put your thinking caps on?

KC: Fortunately we have got a lot of players who can drop into different positions and that helps. Having the multi talented player is now a necessity. The days of being just a wing, centre or a six are few and far between. You have to have players like Louie who can flit between back row, 13 or centre.

MC: Louie did a good impersonation of a centre when he dashed through there – and he had to after the way he carried the ball in the set prior to that?

KC: He did — and that is something that has been grating me because I have been telling Louie how he carries that ball for weeks and weeks and knew it would hurt him – and it did.

But he competes hard and is a great player with immense leg speed for a front rower. When he burst through even Tommy Mak could not keep up with him.

To have the composure to set it up. The players involved in the next passage it was Joe Greenwood who had put pressure on the half back, Tommy who closes the play down and Louie who picks it up. And then look who was involved after the break, Tommy at dummy half and Joe goes in under the posts. That is effort.

When Joe put pressure on the half, that could have been his job done, likewise with Tommy. But at this club it is not enough and they got down the other end to score.

MC: You have spoken a lot about Joe Greenwood already this year, he is a different bloke, sticking up for himself and refusing to be bullied. What has changed?

KC: The biggest point on that score for me this year was on Friday when Lopini Paea tries to push him, but Joe stands up to him. That is Joe Greenwood coming of age. Joe is a friendly giant and that has probably been his downfall over the last couple of years.

A very smart coach once said to me that even nice players can turn into tough players and that has always stuck with me.

That was the only thing missing from him was that little bit of dog. He believes in himself.

He also had that growth spurt from 98kilos to 106 so has had to grow into that body and has mentally done that now.

MC: Widnes are a tough side on that pitch?

KC: They are and are playing really good rugby. I have watched their last three games and they have been quite convincing, doing some really good stuff. It is not just the Kev Brown show any more. Denis Betts has done a good job in what he has brought through and his recruitment has been good.

They are a big, aggressive side – they were better than Huddersfield last week and should have won. It is never easy on that iPitch and they are comfortable with that surface. I have no issue under foot because it is a nice fast track – it is just the bounce of the ball. They train on that, we are used to grass!

MC: Is Robes OK?

KC: He has had a bit of an injury for a couple of weeks and not been comfortable. The plan was to play him for 20 and then bring Lance on – but then we lost three players.

Lance stayed on the bench for so long because I only had five subs left, normally I like six for the second half and that is with a full complement of players. I knew I had to go one for one with Lance. The three big men need rests and you need to roll them. I tried to be as smart tactically as I could and it worked well and the players adapted well to it.

I had been trying to squeeze more minutes out of big Mose and big Al – to make them the players they are going to be they need to play extra time, not 10 minute burst – but getting up to 15 and 18.

Friday showed Big Al can play 60 minutes and that is what he needed to get to the next level. His form has been immense and Mose hit his straps too. When we get Kyle back this pack will be the force we expected.