Every time Sia Soliola takes the field he plays for the club and town, says Rush (From St Helens Star)

Every time Sia Soliola takes the field he plays for the club and town, says Rush

9:04am Sunday 16th September 2012 in Latest News By Mike Critchley

Saints boss Mike Rush was delighted after seeing a tough defensive effort from his take take them to 80 minutes away from a seventh consecutive Grand Final appearance.

The Saints pack thoroughly worked over a Wolves six on their own midden - and the home side were nilled in the second half for the first time this year.

Rush said: “Defensively we were outstanding playing against a quality side with some smart players. We withstood 20 tackles on our goal line and that was a true reflection of the determination this squad has got.

“Others have doubted our forwards this year but it was nice to prove people wrong. When questions are asked the players take it and come back a little bit stronger and hopefully that little bit better. He had particular praise for the effort of man of the match Sia Soliola.

He said: “Sia was enthusiastic and charged around at 3,000 miles an hour at first. But every time he goes on to the field he plays for the club and the town and I don’t think you can ask any more of a player.

“We needed to settle down and at times needed to play with a bit more composure but we were pleased with that.”

Saints now get a week off, but Wolves will have to play the lowest ranked winner from the weekend’s elimination games next Saturday.

Wolves boss Tony Smith said his side will need to up their game at this stage of the season after seeing them fall short against Saints. He said: “We did not attack as well as we needed to. We were impatient and did not ask enough questions of Saints when we had them in their area.

“We let them off the hook. It did not flow for us.

“We were good defensively for much of the game. But they took advantage when we slipped up.

“We were not at our best and need to be at this stage of the competition.

“You have your good days and some not so good. It was not disastrous but you need to be at your best. The players are responsive, we will work hard this week and now we get to play another game.”

He revealed that substitute Gareth Carvell, who came off after two minutes following a three man tackle, had suffered a back spasm.

Trent Waterhouse suffered a broken nose but will be fit next week along with the missing Ben Harrison and Ben Westwood.