TREBLE-seeking Saints Women have earned home advantage in this Sunday’s Super League Grand Final against current champions York Valkyrie. (4.30pm).
Having already won the Challenge Cup and League Leaders Shield, Saints are gunning for their first treble since 2021.
And skipper Jodie Cunningham credits the narrow opening day defeat at York with helping fire them on this season – and make some early learns.
Cunningham said: “We spoke about that first defeat and it was probably the best thing that happened to us.
“We nearly scraped a win there and only lost with a last minute try – but the performance was not good enough.
“Had we won it may have papered over the cracks – but by taking a defeat we had to look really hard on ourselves.
“We did that as a group and fixed up what we needed to – we needed to be tougher and since then done so much work on the 1 per centers, our D and making sure we get it spot on.
“Our defence has been outstanding all year and has probably driven us to a lot of our wins.
“Losing was probably the best thing to happen.”
Saints have won their last 16 games in all competitions since then.
Saints backed up the emphatic Challenge Cup 22-0 win over Leeds Rhinos by topping the table ahead of York and Leeds Rhinos.
The beat Denis Betts’ hugely improved Wigan Warriors in the play-off semi final to book their spot in Sunday’s showpiece.
They earned the right to a home final on account of their highest place finish – and the game is part of a double header.
In the curtain raiser Featherstone Rovers will be battling to keep their Super League spot against promotion seeking Leigh Leopards.
But in St Helens all eyes will be on Cunningham’s side to see if they can take out the title.
If they did it would be the perfect send off for Woman of Steel contender Faye Gaskin.
The experienced Saints half back is hanging up her boots at the end of the year.
For Cunningham a treble would be a fitting reward for all of the team’s efforts.
She said: “We set our goals high at the start of the year and we were really confident in ourselves as a squad that we could do the treble, even though we knew that it would be tough.
“The way we have performed and defended has gone way beyond what I expected of this group.
“We are now one game away from making that happen.
“The girls deserve it, they work so hard and it would mean the world to us all.”
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