2014 St Helens RLFC season

2014 St Helens RLFC season
Super League XIX Rank	1st
Play-off result	Grand final – Winners
Challenge Cup	Fifth Round
2014 record	Wins: 20; draws: 0; losses: 9
Points scored	For: 825; against: 611
Team information
Chairman	Eamonn McManus
Head coach	Nathan Brown
Captain	Paul Wellens
Stadium	Langtree Park
Avg. attendance	12,063
High attendance	17,980 (vs Wigan Warriors, 18 April 2014)
Top scorers
Tries	Tom Makinson (28)
Goals	Luke Walsh (70)
Points	Luke Walsh (160)
← 2013 List of seasons 2015 →

The 2014 St Helens R.F.C. season is the club's 140th in its history; its 119th in rugby league. The Saints will be looking to end a 6-year silverware drought this season by competing for the Super League XIX title as well as the 113th edition of the Challenge Cup. This season marks Australian Nathan Brown's second season as head coach of the club, continuing from his first season in 2013 which ended in a 5th-place finish and an early playoff exit courtesy of an 11–10 defeat at Leeds Rhinos. They began their season by taking on last seasons runner-up Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, which ended in an 8–38 win for Saints. This win sent Saints on a win streak that lasted for eight Super League games before being defeated on 18 April 2014 by arch-rivals Wigan Warriors at Langtree Park in the annual Good Friday derby match. Easter was a period to forget for the Saints as they were beaten by Widnes Vikings for their second league defeat in a row, following the Good Friday defeat to bitter rivals Wigan, and then by Leeds Rhinos in Round 5 of the Challenge Cup meaning the Saints will miss out on the trophy for a sixth year. The Saints bounced back however on 1 May with a 48–18 win over the London Broncos. Saints suffered another Magic Weekend to the Warrington Wolves on 18 May with the game ending 41–24 to the Wolves. Results picked up after the Magic Weekend with two straight wins at home against Huddersfield & Salford however the Saints then traveled to Perpignan where they suffered a humiliating 42–0 loss to the Catalans Dragons. Once again, the Saints bounced back with an impressive win over Castleford Tigers at Langtree Park and with another outstanding performance in a pulsating game at the DW Stadium against arch-rivals Wigan Warriors that ended 12–16 in favour of the Saints; the win avenging the Good Friday defeat at Langtree Park. Following this win, Saints suffered a shock 40–10 defeat to Hull Kingston Rovers but bounced back with three straight wins before losing to Hull KR's cross-town rivals, Hull FC, 19–12. However, a 40–16 win over Wakefield Trinity Wildcats & an extremely tight 12–13 win over Leeds Rhinos at Headingley put the Saints in a position where a win against Warrington on 4 September would hand them their first League Leaders' Shield since the 2008 season; with Castleford Tigers being the only other team in contention for the top spot. Despite losing their last two games of the regular season, Saints acquired the League Leaders' Shield following Castleford's failure to beat Catalans Dragons in their last game of the season; meaning that the Saints took their first piece of silverware since 2008. The unlikely success of the 2014 season culminated in a 14–6 win over arch-rivals Wigan Warriors in the 2014 Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford making Saints the Super League champions for the first time since 2006 in an extremely lively, well-fought contest that saw Wigan player Ben Flower sent off for a sucker punch on a defenceless Lance Hohaia in the 2nd minute of the game.

2014 transfers

Players In

Player	Previous Club	Contract	Date Signed
Luke Walsh	Penrith Panthers	2 Years	May 2013
Mose Masoe	Penrith Panthers	2 Years	June 2013
Richard Beaumont	Hull Kingston Rovers	2 Years	August 2013
Kyle Amor	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats	4 Years	September 2013
Matty Dawson	Huddersfield Giants	2 Years	September 2013

Players Out

Player	Signed for	Contract	Announced
Francis Meli	Salford Red Devils	1 Year	July 2013
Tony Puletua	Salford Red Devils	2 Years	July 2013
Lee Gaskell	Bradford Bulls	2 Years	August 2013
Josh Perry	Retired	N/A	September 2013
Dominic Speakman	Barrow Raiders	1 Year	November 2013
Nathan Ashe	Released	N/A	November 2013

2014 squad

* Announced on 15 November 2013:

2014 St Helens Squad

First team squad								Coaching staff
1 Jonny Lomax – FB, SH 2 Tom Makinson – WG 3 Jordan Turner – CE 4 Josh Jones – CE, SR 5 Adam Swift – WG 6 Lance Hohaia – SO, HK 7 Luke Walsh – SH 8 Mose Masoe – PR 9 James Roby – HK 10 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook – PR, LF 11 Sia Soliola – SR, CE 12 Jon Wilkin – SR, LF, SO 13 Willie Manu – LF, SR		14 Anthony Laffranchi – PR 15 Mark Flanagan – SR 16 Kyle Amor – PR 17 Paul Wellens (c) – FB, LF 18 Alex Walmsley – PR 19 Paul Clough – PR, SR 20 Richard Beaumont – SR, PR 21 Ade Gardner – WG 22 Mark Percival – CE 23 Joe Greenwood – PR 24 Gary Wheeler – CE, SO 25 Anthony Walker – SR 26 Matty Dawson – WG, CE		27 Greg Richards – PR 28 Luke Thompson – PR, LF 29 Jordan Hand – SR 30 Carl Forster – PR 31 James Tilley – HK, LF 32 Lewis Charnock – SO, FB 33 Andre Sevelio – PR 34 Conor Dwyer – HK 35 Alex Clare – SR				Head coach Nathan Brown Assistant coaches Keiron Cunningham Jamahl Lolesi Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Updated: 15 November 2013 Source(s): 2014 Squad Numbers

Other staff

Technical staff

Name	Job title
Steve Leonard	Service Area Manager
Nathan Brown	Head coach
Keiron Cunningham	Assistant coach
Jamahl Lolesi	Assistant coach
Matt Daniels	Head of strength and conditioning, head trainer
Joey Hayes] and Nathan Mill	Physiotherapists
Derek Traynor	ASSE Manager & Under 19's Coach
Ian Harris	Training steward
Alan Clarke	Kit manager
Neil Kilshaw	Player Performance Manager
Gaz Tracey	Club Chaplain
Derek Jones	Masseur
Kel Coslett	Gameday manager
Simon Perritt	Club doctor

Boardroom staff

Name	Job title
Eamonn McManus	Chairman
Mike Rush	Chief executive officer
Paul Sculthorpe	Business development manager
Steve Law	Merchandising manager
Mike Appleton	Media manager
Mark Onion	Marketing manager
Steve Davis	Head of Commercial Operations

Pre Season

LEGEND
	Win
	Draw
	Loss

Saints began their pre-season by taking on Batley Bulldogs in January 2014; taking a 20–0 victory at home. Following this victory, Saints then took on bitter rivals Wigan Warriors in a 'friendly game', again at Langtree Park, for James Roby's testimonial match, sinking to a disappointing 16–28 defeat. They bounced back however for their last pre-season game before the season began with a 6–62 win away at Rochdale Hornets with a St Helens Select XIII team.

Date	Competition	Vs	H/A	Venue	Result	Score	Tries	Goals	Att	TV	Report
24/01/14	Friendly	Batley Bulldogs	H	Langtree Park	W	20–0	Makinson, Percival, Flanagan, Jones	Percival (2)	TBC	No	[1]
31/01/14	Testimonial	Wigan Warriors	H	Langtree Park	L	16–28	Swift (2), Roby	Walsh (2)	TBC	No	[2]
02/02/14	Friendly	Rochdale Hornets	A	Spotland Stadium	W	6–62	Makinson, Galbraith(2), Fleming, Ashworth, Gardner(2), Charnock, Clough, Walker, Tisdale	Charnock(8), Makinson	TBC	No	[3]

Super League XIX Fixtures/Results/Table

LEGEND
	Win
	Draw
	Loss

Date	Competition	Rnd	Vs	H/A	Venue	R	Score	Tries	Goals	KO	Att	TV	Report
13/02/14	Super League	1	Warrington Wolves	A	Halliwell Jones Stadium	Won	8–38	Makinson, Roby, Amor, Laffranchi, Swift, Walsh	Walsh (7)	20:00	13,157	Sky Sports	[4]
21/02/14	Super League	2	Hull F.C.	H	Langtree Park	Won	34–22	Roby (2), Soliola, Lomax, Makinson, Percival	Walsh (5)	20:00	13,488		[5]
27/02/14	Super League	3	Salford Red Devils	A	AJ Bell Stadium	Won	0–38	Wilkin, Walsh, Percival (2), Amor, Laffranchi	Walsh (7)	20:00	6,353	Sky Sports	[6]
07/03/14	Super League	4	Hull Kingston Rovers	H	Langtree Park	Won	38–18	Swift (2), Lomax, Walmsley, Soliola, Makinson, Wilkin	Walsh (5)	20:00	11,818		[7]
14/03/14	Super League	5	Catalans Dragons	H	Langtree Park	Won	40–22	Jones, Makinson (2), Turner, Mc-Carthy Scarsbrook, Hohaia, Swift	Walsh (4), Lomax (2)	20:00	11,321		[8]
14/03/14	Super League	6	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats	A	Belle Vue	Won	16–24	Jones, Soliola, Dawson, Greenwood, Makinson	Makinson (2)	15:00	5,037		[9]
28/03/14	Super League	7	Leeds Rhinos	H	Langtree Park	Won	14–10	Walker, Makinson (2)	Makinson	20:00	13,788	Sky Sports	[10]
11/04/14	Super League	8	Castleford Tigers	A	The Jungle	Won	28–30	Soliola, Lomax, Makinson, Turner, Wellens, Swift	Walsh (3)	20:00	6,487	Sky Sports	[11]
18/04/14	Super League	9	Wigan Warriors	H	Langtree Park	Lost	14–33	Makinson (2), Turner	Walsh	12:15	17,980	Sky Sports	[12]
21/04/14	Super League	10	Widnes Vikings	A	Halton Stadium	Lost	40–26	Soliola, Masoe, Wellens, Makinson, Hohaia	Makinson (3)	15:00	7,706		[13]
01/05/14	Super League	11	London Broncos	H	Langtree Park	Won	48–18	Dawson, Walsh, Lomax, Makinson, Hohaia, Swift, Greenwood, Jones, Flanagan	Walsh (6)	20:00	9,408	Sky Sports	[14]
11/05/14	Super League	12	Bradford Bulls	A	Odsal Stadium	Won	0–50	Wilkin (2), Walsh, Lomax, Makinson, Swift, Soliola, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Roby	Walsh (7)	15:00	6,311		[15]
18/05/14	Super League	13: Magic Weekend	Warrington Wolves	N	Etihad Stadium	Lost	41–24	Walmsley, Turner, Hohaia, Dawson	Walsh (4)	17:00	28,213	Sky Sports	[16]
23/05/14	Super League	14	Huddersfield Giants	H	Langtree Park	Won	41–22	Wheeler (2), Hohaia, Wellens, Dawson, Wilkin, Masoe	Walsh (6)	20:00	10,218	Sky Sports	[17]
30/05/14	Super League	15	Salford Red Devils	H	Langtree Park	Won	32–12	Wellens (2), Soliola, Hohaia, Wheeler	Walsh (6)	20:00	11,000		[18]
14/06/14	Super League	16	Catalans Dragons	A	Stade Gilbert Brutus	Lost	42–0			18:00	7,276	Sky Sports	[19]
22/06/14	Super League	17	Castleford Tigers	H	Langtree Park	Won	38–16	Makinson, Wellens (2), Turner, Percival (2), Walsh	Walsh (5)	15:00	12,648		[20]
27/06/14	Super League	18	Wigan Warriors	A	DW Stadium	Won	12–16	Makinson (2), Wellens	Percival (2)	20:00	20,224	Sky Sports	[21]
06/07/14	Super League	19	Hull Kingston Rovers	A	KC Lightstream Stadium	Lost	40–10	Percival, Masoe	Percival	15:00	7,611		[22]
11/07/14	Super League	20	Bradford Bulls	H	Langtree Park	Won	46–22	Roby, Wellens (2), Masoe, Percival, Swift, Hohaia, Makinson	Percival (7)	20:00	10,238		[23]
19/07/14	Super League	21	London Broncos	A	The Hive Stadium	Won	16–58	Percival (2), Amor, Turner (2), Wellens, Dawson (2), Thompson, Soliola, Laffranchi	Percival (7)	15:00	1,791		[24]
25/07/14	Super League	22	Widnes Vikings	H	Langtree Park	Won	44–22	Flanagan, Makinson (3), Masoe (2), Turner, Manu	Percival (6)	20:00	11,844		[25]
01/08/14	Super League	23	Hull F.C.	A	KC Stadium	Lost	19–12	Makinson, Wellens	Percival (2)	20:00	10,214		[26]
15/08/14	Super League	24	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats	H	Langtree Park	Won	40–16	Makinson (2), Jones (2), Mcdonnell (2), Soliola	Percival (6)	20:00	11,000		[27]
29/08/14	Super League	25	Leeds Rhinos	A	Headingley Stadium	Won	12–13	LMS, Roby	Percival, Makinson	20:00	17,682	Sky Sports	[28]
04/09/14	Super League	26	Warrington Wolves	H	Langtree Park	Lost	12–39	McDonnell, Manu	Makinson (2)	20:00	12,854	Sky Sports	[29]
14/09/14	Super League	27	Huddersfield Giants	H	Galpharm Stadium	Lost	17–16	Makinson, Roby, Hohaia	Percival (2)	20:00	7,244	Sky Sports	[30]

Super League XIX

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	St Helens (L, C)	27	19	0	8	796	563	233	38	Play-offs
2	Wigan Warriors	27	18	1	8	834	429	405	37
3	Huddersfield Giants	27	17	3	7	785	626	159	37
4	Castleford Tigers	27	17	2	8	814	583	231	36
5	Warrington Wolves	27	17	1	9	793	515	278	35
6	Leeds Rhinos	27	15	2	10	685	421	264	32
7	Catalans Dragons	27	14	1	12	733	667	66	29
8	Widnes Vikings	27	13	1	13	611	725	−114	27
9	Hull Kingston Rovers	27	10	3	14	627	665	−38	23
10	Salford Red Devils	27	11	1	15	608	695	−87	23
11	Hull F.C.	27	10	2	15	653	586	67	22
12	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats	27	10	1	16	557	750	−193	21
13	Bradford Bulls (R)	27	8	0	19	512	984	−472	10	Relegation to Championship
14	London Broncos (R)	27	1	0	26	438	1237	−799	2

Source:
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:

Super League XIX – Play-Off Series

Date	Competition	Rnd	Vs	H/A	Venue	R	Score	Tries	Goals	Att	TV	Report
19/09/14	Super League	Qualifying Play-Off	Castleford	H	Langtree Park	W	41–0	Roby (2), Turner, Swift, Makinson, Amor, Masoe	Percival (6), Turner (DG)	7,548	Sky	[31]
02/10/14	Super League	Qualifying Semi-Final	Catalans Dragons	H	Langtree Park	W	30–12	Turner, Swift, Manu, Masoe, Percival	Percival (5)	8,888	Sky	[32]
11/10/14	Super League	Grand Final	Wigan	N	Old Trafford	W	14–6	Soliola, Makinson	Percival (3)	70,102	Sky	[33]

Even without key players Luke Walsh, Jon Wilkin & Jonny Lomax for the majority of the second half of the season, Saints managed to battle through the play-offs to reach an unprecedented 10th Grand Final. Even though they also lost Lance Hohaia in the second minute of the game via a disgraceful punch from Ben Flower, Saints overcame the solid defence of Wigans remaining 12 men to claim their 5th Super League title.

2014 Tetley's Challenge Cup Fixtures\Results

LEGEND
	Win
	Draw
	Loss

Date	Competition	Rnd	Vs	H/A	Venue	R	Score	Tries	Goals	KO	Att	TV	Report
06/04/2014	Challenge Cup	Round 4	Huddersfield Giants	A	John Smith's Stadium	P Bentham	16–17	Swift, Makinson (2)	Walsh (2), Walsh (DG)	14:15	7,150	BBC Sport	[34]
26/04/2014	Challenge Cup	Round 5	Leeds Rhinos	A	Headingley Stadium	R Silverwood	32–12	Swift, Jones	Walsh (2)	14:30	12,194	BBC Sport	[35]