SAINTS came back from a 12-6 half time deficit to win 24-14 at Hull FC.
Here is everything coach Paul Rowley said in the post-match press conference.
Q: What did you say at half time to turn that around?
PR: They're a good group, so generally they know where we were going wrong and how to fix it.
But as coaching staff, myself, Eamon and Lee, it was a really easy half-time for us. We were down there a couple of minutes and we're out of there.
I just think physicality, they were just off a little bit in that regard. I thought they were very good, so credit to Hull in that respect.
And we wanted to get them into a grind for longer periods and be a little bit more consistent in how we were going about our business.
I think when you get to a time where you're just a little bit fatigued due to workload of players, etcetera, etcetera.
I think the effort was still there, but it was probably a little bit disconnected and the result is it can get a little bit messy and how we controlled them defensively in that first half.
But they fixed it up and we nilled Hull in the second, so I cannot speak highly enough of them.
Q: You're young middles tonight were impressive tonight?
PR: I totally agree. I thought George and Noah coming on and the stint that they did was a really important stint for us.
Again, complemented by the experience, obviously, of Al and Leesy coming back. Klem did short minutes, but he's been an absolute Trojan for us. And Shoz (Joe Shorrocks) in there as well, who's ended up in the back row.
Again, it worked without disruption with injuries and stuff, but it was a gritty performance.
We had to find a different way and credit to Hull again, what they did defensively.
They challenged us, but we found our rhythm in that second-half. I'm made-up with it, to be honest, for the lads really, because I think as a club we've done it tough and I think they deserve that result.
They deserve to go into a break, which they've got now, a three or four day break, you know, with a good feeling and I'm really pleased for them.
Q: How's your captain? First game for 10 weeks.
PR: Great. Obviously it's not going to be as polished as he can be, and that's, I'll say that about all the team, but for Matty to get that under his belt, I thought he showed absolutely what he's about.
He was leading in defence and challenging and cutting the time down and the usual aggressor that we know he is, so it's fantastic.
Q: When Alex Walmsley came back last week, he started on the bench, was there no question easing Matty Lees from the bench?
PR: The bench isn't always a way of easing people in, because you have to come straight in at a faster tempo.
Some players like starting, some players are comfortable coming off the bench, it's a skill in itself.
I think for Matty, it's been a long time. He just wanted to get out there and get on that field.
And I think for the team as well, to see Matty lining up, it was an emotional boost for them too.
So there are various reasons that we actually changed our mind later in the week and went from bench to starting.
Q: Is it just Deon Cross with the injury tonight?
PR: He's the only one that we're aware of, so obviously we'll clear all that up over the weekend and see what comes through.
Deon was gum-shielded and then failed his HIA on the back of that, but he's got a fair bit of swelling going on his face and cheek there, which he'll have to get checked out.
Q: You must feel a bit of sympathy for your opposite number (John Cartwright), given the good job he's doing here and feeling an emotional night for him in the circumstances.
PR: First and foremost, we knew it'd be an emotional night in that respect, and that would add to the start in particular that all would produce.
And they did just that, so no surprises there, but John, like all coaches in Super League, is a good bloke who works hard.
And as coaches, we all have sympathy and empathy for everyone's situation, but we know what the job's about, and we as a club, and I as an individual in the coaching team, wish him all the best.
But we wish Hull all the best as well with the rest of their season and their future.
Q: Top of the Super League table tonight, but given all the adversity you've faced, all the injuries, and you're in the Challenge Cup semi-final. That's not bad going.
PR: We're delighted with it without getting carried away. It's a tribute to the lads and the exciting bit is, and it won't just happen that we'll get players back and we'll automatically go to a different level.
We're aware that takes hard work and new players coming back in will have to find their feet, so to speak, and come into a way that's probably changed a little bit how we play.
There's still loads of hard work, but the exciting bit is there's definitely another level to go to, and fresh bodies and competition more than anything.
The lads who are coming in aren't necessarily going to be 'right, you're out, you're in’.
It's going to provide competition, intensity to training, and all those contributing factors should, and hopefully will, contribute to us improving and performing better when it matters.
Q: It's going to be some conundrums in the future.
PR: I absolutely hope so. That'd be great, I just hope so. That's what we're looking for, a lot of selection headaches because we've got a lot of fit bodies, fit and healthy, and we're in a good spot.
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