KEIRON Cunningham paid tribute to the Saints camp sticking to their guns as they toppled the Super League leaders Warrington Wolves.

Despite three losses in the previous four outings, among a batch of injury problems, the Saints head coach felt his side were not far off.

And with three ‘developing juniors’ in the 17 his belief was reinforced as a Saints side inspired by the craftsmanship of French half back Theo Fages became the first team this year to win at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

“I think that’s the same performance we’ve put together for the last three games, which includes Widnes and Hull last week,” said Cunningham.

“I thought we were really unlucky in the Hull game.

“If you persist with that and you keep doing the right things then you do make your own luck in rugby league and I thought that’s what we did today.”

He said he was proud of his men as they countered a heavy penalty count against them in the first half and clawed their way back from 10-0 down to lead 12-10 with tries from replacement prop Kyle Amor and back rower Jack Ashworth.

Fages was the provider for each score before Ben Currie’s response on the hooter handed the home side a 14-12 interval lead.

“I thought we was on the end of some really stiff calls in the first half,” said Cunningham.

“I think we came out 6-2 or 7-2, which was disappointing at times but we fought against that and come back from that scoreline to get a lead and keep hold of that lead. I am proud of my players, really proud.”

Again Fages’ lovely distribution work paved the way for centre Matty Dawson to put Saints in front for the first time six minutes into the second half and it was a lead they never lost.

Saints lost skipper Jon Wilkin in a dazed state in the 64th minute and Luke Walsh’s penalty stretched the lead to four points and it was the scrum half’s little grubber fumbled by Warrington full back Matty Russell that allowed Morgan Knowles to pounce for what proved to be the decisive try.

A Walsh drop goal made it 25-12 but two late tries from Warrington winger Kevin Penny, his second of the game, and opposite flank man Tom Lineham cut the gap to three points with one minute remaining on the clock.

Saints hung on to send their fans in the West Stand crazy.

While Fages takes a lot of the plaudits, game management of James Roby, Walsh and Wilkin alongside him was crucial too.

Cunningham said: “Theo’s just coming of age.

“Without singing his praises too much, when we initially signed Theo or got the opportunity to sign him it was on the pretence that I told the chairman that he would be your number 7 for the next 14-15 years if you could afford to keep him.

“And tonight he’s shown how good a player he is at such a young age and I think with the right people around him doing the right things for the majority of the time he is somebody who can take you to the right places.”

And it was the young lads – try scorers Ashworth and Knowles – along with Jake Spedding on his debut on the left wing who also caught the eye on a sixth successive win at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

“They were immense weren’t they,” said Cunningham.

“Morgan Knowles is something else. We are yet to see the best of him, he’s still a junior developing. He got a little bit of taste of rugby last year and we chucked him in. He’s played 50 to 60 minutes and was outstanding – they all were.

“I thought Jake on the wing didn’t let anybody down, doing a good solid job against some good outside backs. And Jack Ashworth in the left back row, both juniors took their tries well.

“They’ve deserved a crack and they’re games that kids want to play in. As coaches you don’t want your kids playing in these games, you want your full acquisition if you can get them out there.

“But they’re the ones that kids remember forever and that develops them and makes them the players that they will become in the future. We’re in a good spot.”