SAINTS coach Justin Holbrook reflects on the busy week with the Star’s Mike Critchley.

MC: You opted for minimal squad rotation over Easter - are you happy with how that has worked?

JH: The players wanted to back up - and that is great.

There is no right or wrong answer in my opinion on whether to change or not. Widnes opted to do that – when a team brings in young and enthusiastic players that is as hard a game as if you were playing experienced players backing up.

For us it was about how we responded to Friday’s game and we did that in great fashion.

I had conversations with the other coaches and the performance staff and there are different methods.

Last week I said plan for Friday then after that plan for Monday and now Friday again. That is the way we have done it.

MC: What was most pleasing aspect of the Wigan game?

JH: The way we were in control of the game at half time. We missed a couple of chances and thought we dominated.After dominating the game we found ourselves behind and just to stay calm and go on and win the game was the most pleasing aspect.

We didn’t have everything go our way and Wigan are a great team as well. They were not going to lie down. It was always going to be a battle so for us to come through that on top in front of a full house.

I know it means so much to so many people.

Wigan had won eight in a row, so to stop that run and get some enjoyment for every St Helens fan over Easter was pleasing.

We showed a lot of character. There are really good standards here and they showed it.

We had to come up with some really good rugby too to come up with that try.

It was a great pass from Jonny Lomax for Regan Grace's try. And was fantastic to see us make a break down the right and score on the left corner.

It shows that everyone is contributing to the team and to our play. It is a good mixture.

Wilko has been outstanding, Danny Richardson doing a great job, Tommy Makinson has been brilliant and then we have Benny Barba on top who is class.

MC: Has it been a deliberate effort this past three games to start utilising the right hand side in attack more?

JH: There is no glaring point about it. It is just the way it has gone and the right hand side has ended up getting a fair bit of ball, which is great.

We are always a threat both sides, but we have predominantly gone to the left.

It has not been a special effort to go the other way – it is just that we have quality both sides and they get an even share which is great.

MC: Ryan Morgan showed no sign of ring-rust when he broke there, did he?

JH: He looked awesome. The way he has trained hard since being left out of the team and the way he played on Friday was great and then he backed it up.

It is a good sign that he has been disappointed not being in there but the minute he gets an opportunity he has taken it. He has looked really sharp for us.

MC: Danny Richardson recovered very well from a couple of early errors against Wigan, and really helped bring the game home.

JH: He is a good, confident young kid and I knew he would not worry about that (missed kick to touch). There is plenty of time on the field to play in this game.

He does not let things like that worry him, he is just great. That is what you need. He responded really well and did some special things for us late in the game, which is good.

MC: It was good to see Mal Meninga is still revered here 33 years on, can Ben Barba leave the same lasting impression?

JH: He should do. It is up to the fans to decide that, not me.

I knew straight away the qualities Ben has got an he is showing that every week.

St Helens is lucky enough to have him here and if I was a fan I’d be getting out to watch him any chance I had got.

There are so many things to his game too.

It is his skill level, his anticipation, the way he reads the game and his organisation of the defensive line.

He is an absolutely brilliant player and I am enjoying having him as part of our team.

MC: There seems to be a lot of speculation on Matty Smith regards to a loan move. What are your thoughts on that?

JH: I don’t want to lose Matty Smith because he is so good to have in the group. He has been fantastic at training but I understand he wants to play.

The hard thing for him is that he has been in our 19 every week but can’t get into the 17.

It was great to give him a run on Monday. As to whether he goes on loan I am not too sure, but I would love to keep him here.

He is not just covering half back, he covered hooker for us Monday and we have some guys who we can change if we have to.

I’d like to keep him but not sure of the outcome.