MICHAEL Smith’s World Championship win understandably has sent a buzz through the Saints squad which was noticeable when they turned up for training yesterday morning.

Bully Boy immediately sent his wish to the club to have a picture taken with the Saints players, with him sporting his Grand Slam and World Championship alongside the team’s League Leaders Shield and Super League.

The club have responded to his request and that will be happening imminently.

Coach Paul Wellens said Smith’s triumph had been the major talking point when all the players turned up for training.

He said: “On some level it does give you all a bit of inspiration.

“Whatever sport you watch, sometimes there are moments – like this year’s football World Cup Final – where everyone talks about it because of the quality of the game and the tension involved.

“That was the same with the World Darts Championship final.

“Obviously if you throw in that Michael is from St Helens and a lot of the lads know him on a personal level as well it adds a bit more to it.

“Michael winning that has been really good for the town. And on some level it gives everyone a little bit of a pick up.”

The ball is now in Saints’ court to add their own world title – something they can do next month when they travel to play NRL Premiers Penrith in Australia.

Smith said: "You never write off a Saint. It would be nice if Saints won it – but it is going to be tough for them, going over to Australia to play it, but the boys can do it and know how good they are.

"They know they can win any game they play in so hopefully if they do win it, they can come back and we can have some nice pictures in the middle of stadium.”