NEW Saints coach Kristian Woolf does not see a great need for a lot of change as he takes over the reins at the Super League champions.

He does, however, want to bring a “tough brand of footy” and anticipates the competition stepping up a notch in 2020.

The Tongan national coach, who arrived in St Helens on Thursday night with the scalps of Great Britain and Australia tucked into his belt, was relishing the challenge of coaching a side with Saints’ history and pedigree of success.

Woolf said: “Being champions does add pressure and there’s an expectation of success but that is all part of the challenge and something I am looking forward to,

“There’s not a lot of need for change, there’s a lot of things being done well already and the same staff are already in place

“But what we have to do is find ways to be a little better than we were last year because the competition is going to be stronger

“Clubs like Wigan, Warrington, Leeds and Catalans have recruited well. The comp is going to be stronger – but at the same time things are not broken here so it is a case of building on what is there.”

Woolf appreciated that the club has a good history of success and his goal is to make sure he continues that.

He added: “I’d like to think we are going to bring a really tough brand of footy - one that follows on from the attacking tradition.

“A tough brand, where we are competing hard and winning the contests all the time. From what I see that is part of St Helens but something I’d like to build on and continue.

“I’m looking forward to being part of it.”

Woolf explained that he had already met Saints players over coffee on the Great Britain tour and also teamed up with the Academy tourists in Australia.

“I got the opportunity to meet the Academy boys – they came to a Tonga training session and watched us train and that was a good little introduction.”

He briefly met the staff he will be working alongside on his quick tour of the club and is looking forward to getting down to the task.

“They all come with really good reputations and people can’t speak highly enough of them and so I am looking forward to working with them to follow on from the success of this year,” he said.

Woolf’s stock is sky high in Australia, but he spelled out what has brought him to England – and Saints in particular.

“I have always had the desire to coach in Super League and test myself here – I watch a bit of Super League and realise it is a different style of football to what we play in the NRL

“To get that opportunity with a club like St Helens with its history and success is really appealing and I am looking forward to doing it,” he said.