2014 St Helens RLFC season

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 Headingly 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.[1]

2014 St Helens RLFC season
Super League XIX Rank1st
Play-off resultGrand Final – Winners
Challenge CupFifth Round
2014 recordWins: 20; Draws: 0; Losses: 9
Points scoredFor: 825; Against: 611
Team information
ChairmanEamonn McManus
Head coachNathan Brown
Captain
StadiumLangtree Park
Avg. Attend.12,063
High. Attend.17,980 (vs Wigan Warriors, 18 April 2014)
Top scorers
TriesTom Makinson (28)
GoalsLuke Walsh (70)
PointsLuke Walsh (160)
< 2013 List of seasons 2015 >

2014 transfers

Players In

PlayerPrevious ClubContractDate Signed
Luke WalshPenrith Panthers2 YearsMay 2013
Mose MasoePenrith Panthers2 YearsJune 2013
Richard BeaumontHull Kingston Rovers2 YearsAugust 2013
Kyle AmorWakefield Trinity Wildcats4 YearsSeptember 2013
Matty DawsonHuddersfield Giants2 YearsSeptember 2013

Players Out

PlayerSigned forContractAnnounced
Francis MeliSalford Red Devils1 YearJuly 2013
Tony PuletuaSalford Red Devils2 YearsJuly 2013
Lee GaskellBradford Bulls2 YearsAugust 2013
Josh PerryRetiredN/ASeptember 2013
Dominic SpeakmanBarrow Raiders1 YearNovember 2013
Nathan AsheReleasedN/ANovember 2013

2014 squad

* Announced on 15 November 2013:

2014 St Helens Squad
First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

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

[2]

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

[3]

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.

DateCompetitionVsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttTVReport
24/01/14Friendly Batley BulldogsHLangtree ParkW20–0Makinson, Percival, Flanagan, JonesPercival (2)TBCNo
31/01/14Testimonial Wigan WarriorsHLangtree ParkL16–28Swift (2), RobyWalsh (2)TBCNo
02/02/14Friendly Rochdale HornetsASpotland StadiumW6–62Makinson, Galbraith(2), Fleming, Ashworth, Gardner(2), Charnock, Clough, Walker, TisdaleCharnock(8), MakinsonTBCNo

Super League XIX Fixtures/Results/Table
LEGEND
  Win
  Draw
  Loss
DateCompetitionRndVsH/AVenueRScoreTriesGoalsKOAttTVReport
13/02/14Super League1 Warrington WolvesAHalliwell Jones StadiumWon8–38Makinson, Roby, Amor, Laffranchi, Swift, WalshWalsh (7)20:0013,157Sky Sports
21/02/14Super League2 Hull F.C.HLangtree ParkWon34–22Roby (2), Soliola, Lomax, Makinson, PercivalWalsh (5)20:0013,488
27/02/14Super League3 Salford Red DevilsAAJ Bell StadiumWon0–38Wilkin, Walsh, Percival (2), Amor, LaffranchiWalsh (7)20:006,353Sky Sports
07/03/14Super League4 Hull Kingston RoversHLangtree ParkWon38–18Swift (2), Lomax, Walmsley, Soliola, Makinson, WilkinWalsh (5)20:0011,818
14/03/14Super League5 Catalans DragonsHLangtree ParkWon40–22Jones, Makinson (2), Turner, Mc-Carthy Scarsbrook, Hohaia, SwiftWalsh (4), Lomax (2)20:0011,321
14/03/14Super League6 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsABelle VueWon16–24Jones, Soliola, Dawson, Greenwood, MakinsonMakinson (2)15:005,037
28/03/14Super League7 Leeds RhinosHLangtree ParkWon14–10Walker, Makinson (2)Makinson20:0013,788Sky Sports
11/04/14Super League8 Castleford TigersAThe JungleWon28–30Soliola, Lomax, Makinson, Turner, Wellens, SwiftWalsh (3)20:006,487Sky Sports
18/04/14Super League9 Wigan WarriorsHLangtree ParkLost14–33Makinson (2), TurnerWalsh12:1517,980Sky Sports
21/04/14Super League10 Widnes VikingsAHalton StadiumLost40–26Soliola, Masoe, Wellens, Makinson, HohaiaMakinson (3)15:007,706
01/05/14Super League11 London BroncosHLangtree ParkWon48–18Dawson, Walsh, Lomax, Makinson, Hohaia, Swift, Greenwood, Jones, FlanaganWalsh (6)20:009,408Sky Sports
11/05/14Super League12 Bradford BullsAOdsal StadiumWon0–50Wilkin (2), Walsh, Lomax, Makinson, Swift, Soliola, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, RobyWalsh (7)15:006,311
18/05/14Super League13: Magic Weekend Warrington WolvesNEtihad StadiumLost41–24Walmsley, Turner, Hohaia, DawsonWalsh (4)17:0028,213Sky Sports
23/05/14Super League14 Huddersfield GiantsHLangtree ParkWon41–22Wheeler (2), Hohaia, Wellens, Dawson, Wilkin, MasoeWalsh (6)20:0010,218Sky Sports
30/05/14Super League15 Salford Red DevilsHLangtree ParkWon32–12Wellens (2), Soliola, Hohaia, WheelerWalsh (6)20:0011,000
14/06/14Super League16 Catalans DragonsAStade Gilbert BrutusLost42–018:007,276Sky Sports
22/06/14Super League17 Castleford TigersHLangtree ParkWon38–16Makinson, Wellens (2), Turner, Percival (2), WalshWalsh (5)15:0012,648
27/06/14Super League18 Wigan WarriorsADW StadiumWon12–16Makinson (2), WellensPercival (2)20:0020,224Sky Sports
06/07/14Super League19 Hull Kingston RoversAKC Lightstream StadiumLost40–10Percival, MasoePercival15:007,611
11/07/14Super League20 Bradford BullsHLangtree ParkWon46–22Roby, Wellens (2), Masoe, Percival, Swift, Hohaia, MakinsonPercival (7)20:0010,238
19/07/14Super League21 London BroncosAThe Hive StadiumWon16–58Percival (2), Amor, Turner (2), Wellens, Dawson (2), Thompson, Soliola, LaffranchiPercival (7)15:001,791

25/07/14Super League22 Widnes VikingsHLangtree ParkWon44–22Flanagan, Makinson (3), Masoe (2), Turner, ManuPercival (6)20:0011,844
01/08/14Super League23 Hull F.C.AKC StadiumLost19–12Makinson, WellensPercival (2)20:0010,214
15/08/14Super League24 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsHLangtree ParkWon40–16Makinson (2), Jones (2), Mcdonnell (2), SoliolaPercival (6)20:0011,000
29/08/14Super League25 Leeds RhinosAHeadingley StadiumWon12–13LMS, RobyPercival, Makinson20:0017,682Sky Sports
04/09/14Super League26 Warrington WolvesHLangtree ParkLost12–39McDonnell, ManuMakinson (2)20:0012,854Sky Sports
14/09/14Super League27 Huddersfield GiantsHGalpharm StadiumLost17–16Makinson, Roby, HohaiaPercival (2)20:007,244Sky Sports
As of 14th September 2014
Super League XIX
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 St Helens R.F.C. 27 19 0 8 796 563 +233 38
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 27 8 0 19 512 984 −472 10[lower-alpha 1]
14 London Broncos 27 1 0 26 438 1237 −799 2
Source:
Notes:
  1. Bradford Bulls deducted 6 points on 25 February 2014 for entering administration[4]

Super League XIX – Play-Off Series

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.

DateCompetitionRndVsH/AVenueRScoreTriesGoalsAttTVReport
19/09/14Super LeagueQualifying Play-Off CastlefordHLangtree ParkW41–0Roby (2), Turner, Swift, Makinson, Amor, MasoePercival (6), Turner (DG)7,548Sky
02/10/14Super LeagueQualifying Semi-Final Catalans DragonsHLangtree ParkW30–12Turner, Swift, Manu, Masoe, PercivalPercival (5)8,888Sky
11/10/14Super LeagueGrand Final WiganNOld TraffordW14–6Soliola, MakinsonPercival (3)70,102Sky

2014 Tetley's Challenge Cup Fixtures\Results
LEGEND
  Win
  Draw
  Loss
DateCompetitionRndVsH/AVenueRScoreTriesGoalsKOAttTVReport
06/04/2014Challenge CupRound 4 Huddersfield GiantsAJohn Smith's StadiumP Bentham16–17Swift, Makinson (2)Walsh (2), Walsh (DG)14:157,150BBC Sport
26/04/2014Challenge CupRound 5 Leeds RhinosAHeadingley StadiumR Silverwood32–12Swift, JonesWalsh (2)14:3012,194BBC Sport

References
  1. "St Helens 14 Wigan Warriors 6: Moment of madness from Wales international Ben Flower costs Wigan dear". Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  2. "Team Coaching and Staff | Welcome to the Official Website of St. Helens R.F.C." Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  3. "Who's Who". saintsrlfc.com. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  4. "Bradford Bulls deducted six competition points". Super League. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
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