Paul Rowley happy after Saints comeback win over Bulls

It was a game they had to win twice, after at one point trailing by 12 points and eventually it took a 76th minute try from Deon Cross to see off the newly-promoted Bulls.

They had two players sin-binned – Dave Klemmer in the first half for a high shot and Jake Shorrock late on in the second period.

They also lost Jacob Host with a suspected broken leg with George Delaney failing his HIA in the incident that saw Bulls’ Elliot Peposhi red-carded.

But pleased with the two points, Rowley said: “It is a bit like we've won all our games up to now.

“We've got a bit of character in the team, so that's good to see.

“And again, I think I mentioned it in the previous game against Leigh that we all think that's a non-negotiable, but it's not always evident in all teams.

“So we've got that box ticked.

“I think we have found a way to win in terms of, we've got a sprinkling of how I'd like us to play.

“It's getting more increasingly difficult with obviously all the pieces in all the places that we've got.

“But we are scoring some tries and digging deep. I don't want to call it getting out of jail because we're earning everything as well.

“And again, we have more injuries unfortunately, but I was really happy with the win.”

It was quite a battle after Shane Wright had given Saints an early lead with Bulls going in 10-4 up at the break and after the restart they busted the left edge open to score a full lengther to make it 16-4.

Tries from Curtis Sironen and Tristan Sailor levelled matters before a floated pass put Kyle Feldt in at the corner.

Any hopes that that score had put the game to bed were soon dispelled when Shorrocks was sin-binned and shortly afterwards Andy Ackers put the Bulls in the lead.

Saints kept their composure, with Deon Cross forcing his was over four minutes from time to secure both points.

Deon Cross celebrates the winner (Image: Bernard Platt)

“It'd be easy to say what we didn't do, but I think Bradford are a good team first and foremost,” Rowley said.

“I think they've been good value for all the games that they've played in, and they're a team that if you want to play tick and pass against them, you're probably going to lose because they are a good footballing side.

“But it was important that we were aggressive defensively and we put them in the right areas of the field for long periods of time.

“I thought we did that, probably not consistently enough at times.

“Again, the length of the game I don't think helped anybody, them or us.

“I thought were was slightly unfortunate not to win more things around the ruck, in ruck speed.

“We needed to stick to the strategy and do it a little bit better.

“Certainly what we were doing defensively was letting them off the hook, but the penalties and six against was a big part of that.

“So giving them free territory, they're a dangerous football team.

“We just knuckled down and we had some players out there who played particularly well.

“I think Noah Stevens and Tristan Sailor in particular were the two that stood out for me and ball was going through Jackson Hastings and Joe Shorrocks hands a lot, so they stood up when it mattered as well.”