SAINTS coach Justin Holbrook was happy his side's 28-18 win in their only pre-season hit-out ahead of the Super League start.

He was happy with the way the new boys settled in, but was especially pleased to see Alex Walmsley's contribution.

He also gave an update on players who either missed out with knocks or took bangs during the game.

Holbrook said: “I thought it was a good game. Obviously, we are only playing the one friendly so it is important to play well.

“I am happy with the way we went today.

“I thought we looked sharp in attack, which was great and we defended well too, so happy with the hit out.

“I thought the first 20 was exactly what we wanted. It went end to end and Hull did a great job in making the game go that way and that is exactly what we wanted going into round one against Wigan."

It was Alex Walmsley's first game since breaking a bone in his last March - and he came through a quite physical encounter well and very nearly scored from close range.

"It was great to have Big Al back and the way he played reminded you of what he is capable of. That is a great feeling to have him get through that more than anything else.

“I said to Al he’d have felt the way he did afterwards even if he had played all of last year. It is a first game back and he will be rusty.

“But it will be good for him," he said.

Mark Percival came off after taking a knock midway through the first half, but Holbrook said it was a precautionary measure.

"He has a bit of a sore arm and with it being a friendly there was no point him being out there so was taken off as a precaution.

"Lachlan Coote took a knock to his face just before half time, but to his credit he wanted to go back on.

"I was happy for him not to go back out, but he said he was fine and wanted to go out and play.

He explained that Luke Thompson had picked up a knock in training - and so missed out.

"Luke was all set to play but he was sore and he was one player who I was not worried about not playing today.

"He knows his job quite well and played a lot of games so I did not want to risk him. There are no concerns about him for round one and if that had been a comp game today he would have played," he said.

Saints started with Theo Fages at seven, but then Danny Richardson came off the bench in the second half.

Holbrook explained that the young Widnesian had a disrupted pre-season, troubled by the groin injury that flared in the Warrington semi.

"Danny’s pre-season got disrupted up till Christmas with the groin injury he picked up at the end of the year. But he is fine now," Holbrook said.