MY wife and I were lucky enough to attend the RLWC 2017 and witnessed the most atmospheric game either of us had experienced in a lifetime of supporting St Helens and rugby league in general.


It was the semi-final between Tonga v England at the Mount Smart stadium in Auckland.


We were leaving the next day for our flight to Sydney and queuing with us were the England squad.


Who should turn up at the airport but Kristian Woolf (who the Star reported last week will be the new Saints coach), to bid farewell and good luck to the England squad on their departure. 


He made an effort to shake hands with as many of the squad and staff as he could.

I think that speaks volumes for the character of the man after suffering his team’s defeat the night before.


There was also an occasion at the end of the World Cup final in Brisbane when after the game we were making our way out up the stadium steps only to be greeted by a smiling Nathan Brown and his daughters who had recognised our Saints shirts, (which we wore for the games) and came down to say hello and tell us he and his family only had favourable memories from their time at St Helens.


Mick Tabern, via email