‘Rock star’ Lachlan Coote credits St Helens for saving his career

The Scottish international, who bade an emotional farewell to the choristers in the West Stand last Friday, has cut a hugely popular figure in his time at the club.

It is no surprise. Those fans - and his teammates and his coaches - have seen the huge contribution the former North Queensland Cowboys full back has made in helping Saints transform a five-year silverware drought into three trophy-laden seasons.

He is someone that the fans have taken to their hearts and will be sad to see leave. That feeling is mutual.

Coote said: “It has been awesome - from Day 1 it feels like I have had the fans’ support.

“After a few rounds into 2019 they were singing that song and it gives you goosebumps - the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

“It was only time something has made me feel like a rock star being out there.

“My mum and dad got to experience them singing it and friends back home on video.

“It was the same last Friday with the whole stand there behind the goal singing that song - it was a great feeling to stand there in front of them.

“The whole three years I have been here the fans have been supportive to me and my family.

“It has been great - and they are little things that create a support network and the things you go out and play for.”

Coote will be looking to add to a haul of two Super League rings and a Challenge Cup winners medal when he signs off at Old Trafford on Saturday in his last match before joining Hull KR on a two-year deal.

And yet it all could have been so different had Ben Barba not cut short his stay to leave Saints in the market for a full back.

Sometimes things happen for a reason, and Coote’s switch to Saints has been beneficial to both parties.

Coote explains: “I had a bad year in 2018 with a run of injuries and a coach that probably didn’t want me to be there.

“You then start questioning yourself and your self-confidence.

“It was a case of probably thinking I’d go back to a Queensland Cup team and finish off my career there but then Saints came into play and I took the gamble of moving the family all the way across the other side of the world to chase something.

“I just tried to prove a point to myself my career wasn’t ended.

“Since I’ve been at this club, from day one I’ve been respected, it’s felt like somewhere I belong.

“It’s been a great place to be around and the people and players have brought the best out of me.”

Now he has the chance to bring the curtain down on his Saints career on a high by completing the hat-trick when they take on Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford on Saturday.

“The main reason I signed was to try to win a trophy so to go back to back and then go to a third Grand Final is a great achievement and I feel very proud to be a part of this special group - and grateful as well.

“To have won too, and be going for a third is unreal and I am grateful to be part of a special group,” Coote said

After the experience of Magic, plus the Dragons consistency all year in finishing top, Coote is well aware of the Catalans’ potential to spoil the leaving party.

At Newcastle last month Saints led 30-18 with just five minutes left on the clock but the Dragons breathed fire in running in three converted tries to send the game into extra time where a golden-point drop goal from James Maloney won that and also clinched the League Leaders’ Shield in the process.

“That was definitely a good lesson for us, switching off and getting comfortable,” Coote said.

“Catalans showed they’re a great side at chasing points.

“The league leaders’ trophy is probably one of the hardest to get because you’ve got to be the most consistent throughout the year. They definitely deserve that trophy.”

Meanwhile, Coote is relishing the prospect of running out in front a big crowd at Old Trafford after playing in front of an empty stadium in Hull last year.

“It’s going to be totally different and we are really looking forward to be going back to Old Trafford with the crowds there,” he said.

“Last year it was a bit different and didn’t really feel like a Grand Final but I’m sure this year it’s going to be back to the old ways.

“Either way, it’s going to be the end of an era for me so it’s going to be really emotional.

“It is a great achievement as a team to reach a third consecutive Grand Final and we spoke about that after the win against Leeds in the semi to acknowledge it.

“It would be unreal to go back to Old Trafford again and finish on a high there.”

And Coote believes recent successes will stand them in good stead when they get back under the floodlights at the Theatre of Dreams.

Under Justin Holbrook and Kristian Woolf the team have shaken off that tag of the team that crumbles when it matters.

Coote said: “In 2019 everyone was talking about Saints can’t win big games - and that we were a team that crumbles under the pressure.

“We have definitely flipped that one on its head and shown we can perform in the big games.”