DEPARTING coach Kristian Woolf nailed his colours well and truly to the mast when he declared this crop of four-midable Saints as the best team of the Super League era.

This group (2019-22) have certainly broken the record for consecutive Grand Final wins, but how does it compare to Saints’ previous title-winning sides of the summer era - 1996, 1999-2002, 2006, and 2014.

We can base it on our memories, how excited and dazzled we felt at the time – especially if it was the first time, or even a surprise victory.

But it is the repeated backing up, the evolution of this crop and the way the team of 2022 did against the adversity of losing Regan Grace, Lewis Dodd and Alex Walmsley, plus Mark Percival and Will Hopoate for a big chunk of the campaign.

And another aspect that has not been mentioned, this crop of Saints have had to evolve from the side whose attack was heavily influenced by Lachlan Coote.

That transition was made especially difficult due to the injuries to Hopoate and Dodd – but they got there.

Here is a reminder of what Woolf said after the game: "To get through the adversity that each season tosses up and still put yourself at the top of the table and give yourself the opportunity to be in a Grand Final is tough.

"This group haven’t just done that, they have won every time they have got there as well this past four years.

"In my mind – and there is a debate that people will want to talk about and you can’t compare eras with different players – what you can do is compare results.

"And there is evidence out there that this is the best team of the Super League era."

So what is the evidence?

The Saints crop of 2022 finished top of the Super League pile - four points ahead of Wigan - with a record of 21 wins from 27 games. Among those two losses were the games they put out virtual reserve sides against Castleford and Wakefield.

Although Wigan scored most points, Saints’ defence was key – conceding just 70 tries with a chunk of those coming in games at the back end of the campaign once they had secured a top-two finish.

They went on to see off Salford in the semi and Leeds in the Grand Final to make it four titles in a row.

St Helens Star: Matty Lees celebratesMatty Lees celebrates (Image: Bernard Platt)

It could be argued that but for one loose Jonny Lomax pass – playing a week after rupturing his bicep - and a lucky bounce into a Wigan defender, Saints would have made it to Tottenham to defend their Challenge Cup.

These stats back up the League and Cup double of 2021 – a year in which they lost just five games in all competitions.

In the Covid-impacted season Saints lost 5 of the 17 Super League games played – but three of those came in the opening six rounds when a combination of the World Club focus and post GB tour fatigue had taken their toll on Woolf’s first couple of months in charge.

St Helens Star: Bernard PlattBernard Platt (Image: Bernard Platt)

The previous year, under Justin Holbrook, Saints looked as though they were going to sweep all before them but a shock loss at Wembley against Warrington scuppered that.

It did fire them up for their first Super League title in six years with a win over Salford at Old Trafford.

That year Saints finished a whopping 16 points clear at the summit – and lost just three Super League games of the 29 they played – two of those against the relegated Broncos in London.

So the cumulative achievements of this crop (2019-22) on a pure win/loss ratio are pretty weighty.

But plenty will have their favourites, and everyone who was there will remember the first time.

St Helens Star: Tommy MartynTommy Martyn (Image: Bernard Platt)

Saints 1996-98

Shaun McRae’s inaugural Super League winners of 1996 were well-marshalled by skipper Bobbie Goulding.

A big powerful pack led by Apollo Perelini, with a teenage Keiron Cunningham bossing the ruck, allowed the free-scoring backs to strut their stuff.

The back line dazzled – whether that was Steve Prescott, Alan Hunte or the left hand gang Paul Newlove and Anthony Sullivan with attacks down that edge sparked by Tommy Martyn and Chris Joynt.

Double winners, the Saints won their first Challenge Cup for 20 years and pipped Wigan to inaugural Super League title by a singe point. Saints lost just two games out of that regular 22-game first past the post season and played some razzle-dazzle rugby with it.

However, that team more or less fell apart the following year after winning at Wembley in May 1997 – finishing 11 points behind leaders Bradford and 1998 did not happen, and that was the end of Bomber.


Saints 1999-2004

Ian Millward inherited Ellery Hanley’s champion team at the start of 2000. That side had elements of inaugural title winners but had been augmented by the addition of key figures Paul Sculthorpe and Sean Long, plus a 20-year-old Paul Wellens.

They finished three points behind Wigan, losing five of the 28 games – but stormed through the play-offs.

The Wide to West qualifier against Bradford followed by a 50 plus point mullering of Wigan at JJB set the tone for super finish in the Grand Final.

St Helens Star: 2000 winners2000 winners (Image: Bernard Platt)

A great team of entertainers – and one that backed it up the year later by winning the World Club Challenge against Brisbane before completing a treble of sorts with a Challenge Cup win over Bulls at Twickenham.

But that team wilted after Sean Long was clobbered by Brandon Costin at Huddersfield and they limped to fourth losing nine and drawing two of the 28 matches before exiting at Wigan.

We have to cluster that team with the one that won the classic Grand Final against Bradford Bulls.

Saints had finished top with the Bulls on points difference – with each team losing just five from 28 games.

Individually and collectively a fine team, skippered by Chris Joynt but with Paul Sculthorpe’s mark and input stamped on it.

St Helens Star: Saints 2002.Saints 2002. (Image: Bernard Platt)

The quality oozed out of it – Darren Albert on the wing, an ageing Paul Newlove with still a big game in him, and Long at his mercurial best. Up front Darren Britt was possibly one of the club’s most underrated Aussies. Playing off the quick heels of the pack, Keiron Cunningham made hay.

The only blip on that year was the shock Challenge Cup Final defeat at Murrayfield against Wigan.

But at times that year Saints were unplayable – it was, as the terrace chant used to go, ‘Just like watching Brazil.’ But where that team fell down – in comparison - was backing up.

2003 was a pretty ordinary season, finishing fourth with 16 wins from 28, and although 2004 started brilliantly with the Challenge Cup, that disintegrated somewhat after the Long-Gleeson betting scandal.

That, Milllward’s last full season in charge saw Saints finish fifth – winning 17 of their 28 Super League matches.

Saints 2005-08

The final classic line up to compare with would be the Grand Slam winning team of 2006 which won the League Leaders, Challenge Cup, Super League Grand Final and then followed it up with a World Club Challenge win over Brisbane.

St Helens Star: Paul Wellens and Jamie LyonPaul Wellens and Jamie Lyon (Image: Bernard Platt)

Again, an outstanding team with Jamie Lyon adding extra quality to a star-studded team featuring greats Wellens, Long and Sculthorpe. Augmented by recruits Leon Pryce, Jason Cayless and Francis Meli Saints could steamroller the opposition.

But there was strike there, too, with the underated Lee Gilmour and Willie Talau offering plenty. And as a bonus – two kids James Roby and James Graham began to really make their mark off the bench.

Their 2005 campaign had been wrecked by foul play at the back end ahead of the play offs after finisging top.

St Helens Star: 20062006 (Image: Bernard Platt)

But the stars aligned that year for Daniel Anderson’s team – and they lost just four games by margins of just 1, 2, 3 and 4 points. The latter of those defeats was sustained by a reserve side in Perpignan the week before the Challenge Cup Final.

That side takes some licking – and finished eight points clear on the table – beating Hull FC in the Grand Final.

Daniel Anderson’s side finished top for the next two years, winning 19/27 in 2007 and 21/27 in 2008 but on both occasions they fell to Leeds in successive Grand Finals.

They did have the consolation of three consecutive Challenge Cups 2006-08, but it wuld be 2014 before they would win another title.

So which is the best of the Super League era?

Lets us know your thoughts in comments or by mailing mike.critchley@nqnw.co.uk