JUSTIN Holbrook was happy with the way his side saw off Warrington in the dress-rehearsal for the Super League semi-final.

But he was not getting carried away, given Warrington lost both their halves during the game.

He highlighted Jonny Lomax’s outstanding contribution but was also pleased to see Ben Barba hit form again.

After being written off for the flat spell in August, it was a sign that Saints may be cranking it back up for the knockout games.

Holbrook said: “I am really happy with the performance. We scored some good tries and defended well.

“We play so many games and were guaranteed a home semi before the Super 8s started.

"The motivation levels can’t say that high every week.

“It is an exciting time of the year – it is only a one semi-final system.

“The players have worked hard all year and I want them to enjoy these last few games and they did a good job of that.”

Barba caught the eye with some nice touches on attack and he helped himself to two tries in the win.

Holbrook said: “I have defended him for the past six to eight weeks because as he has had some niggling injuries that he has had to get over. He is over them now and he showed what he could do.

“Once the physios assured me he was over his niggles that was when I was confident he would be back.

“When you are one of those elite type players, if you are not 100 per cent you cannot do the things you can do. You come back to the pack, like everyone else.”

He singled out Lomax, who was a star on both sides of the ball, for praise too.

“I thought Jonny Lomax was brilliant too,” he said.

“We did some good things but we also realise that their seven and six did not play the second half either.

“It was great from our end, but they did not have their strike players on the field so they were not going to get that many opportunities in the second half.

“We played well but we will keep that in context.”