1. Saints made it three out of three and with the season just three (or four in some cases) rounds in they sit at the top of the table alongside Wakefield as the competition’s only unbeaten sides.

After a flashy, fluent handling display in week one against Cas, followed by gutsy defensive display in Perpignan the win in Huddersfield again owed much to Saints’ tackling and willingness to work for each other.

It was not pretty at times, but the way they repelled the Fartowners, who at one stage had the best part of six sets on the Saints line.

It was the sort of game that Saints have lost here so many times in the past – that they won comfortably is a credit to the spirit and self-belief running through the camp at the moment.

2. Another big plus from Friday night came off the pitch – with the massed bank of Saints support in the away end giving a noisy backing. I take my hat, gloves and four layers off to those supporters who, despite the bitterly cold night, sang their hearts out and lifted the team even when the spectacle was scrappy at times.

It is not easy getting down the M62 on a Friday night – less so now they have 15 minutes less with the 7.45pm kicks off – but the backing was superb. We even had a rendition of ‘Justin Holbrook’s Barmy Army’ - a tune that has not been hollered since the last days of Ian Millward. You know, when irate fans brandished images of their fallen leader as the stormed the main stand in the cup tie against York.

To be fair the tune would have carried on under Daniel Anderson, but unfortunately the Grand Slam winning coach had too many syllables in his name.

There have been ups and downs since Daniel Anderson left – and there has often seemed to have been a disconnect between club and fans, but the last six months have done much to heal that.

This is the most we have seen the club as one, and pulling together in the same direction, for a long time and that is pleasing to see. It is not just about the coach, there are plenty of people at Saints working hard within the community, but you get the distinct impression a lot of that comes from the top and Holbrook refreshing approach has been the catalyst for that.

3. But of course it helps if you are winning. It is a long road ahead but a good start is important in setting the tone for the season; even though the pots are only handed out in the autumn, it is not just about how you finish. The start you have creates a mood off the pitch and fosters a culture on it.

4. Friday night saw another strong display in the middle from prop Luke Thompson, who is really maturing into Saints’ real, platform-laying grafter. There were other fine displays too – with Zeb Taia again producing a strong 80-minute display. It may be the product of a good off season, but Taia has come back looking much sharper and is a really mature asset on that left edge.

Former skipper Jon Wilkin was industrious and took his try well and Jonny Lomax will be pleased with two more try assists – one to put Taia in and the other from a punt which was collected by Mark Percival.

5. Friday saw both sides moan at the officials to get a decisions changed. Saints managed to get one wrong call overturned, with the touch judge assisting the ref after an appeal. But Huddersfield full back Jake Mamo’s jumping up and down appeal to the touch judge – after taking exception to mark Percival’s tackle was a tantrum worthy of Match of the Day.

6. The half time draw was conducted by former Saints’ Welsh international prop Mick Murphy, who was credited with helping save Huddersfield in the 90s.

One of the last times we saw the former television actor publicly was in 2001 when he challenged Shaun Woodward after the former Tory MP had been sent to St Helens South as a Labour candidate. Murphy lost his deposit, polling just 271 votes.

It is nevertheless good to see a former Saint from that era, and character to boot, still involved in the game.