“Beat ourselves” – St Helens’ boss rues loss but highlights “easy fixes”
St Helens slipped to defeat in Perpignan against Catalans Dragons in a game that Paul Wellens has characterised as the Red Vee ‘beating themselves’.
Despite leading at half-time, Saints failed to register a point in the second forty as a staunch Catalans side gritted it out to register a fourth straight home win over St Helens.
The Red Vee took the lead when Jack Welsby carved Catalans open down the left-hand side but Mike McMeeken powered over to put the home side in front in the first 30 minutes that saw both sides have tries correctly ruled out.
It was the go-ahead try for St Helens that sparked controversy with Super League coach Paul Rowley claiming on comms that he was “unsure” as to whether Tommy Makinson ever grounded the ball.
Nevertheless, Liam Moore was certain and awarded it on the spot which meant there was no chance for a video referee to get a second look, a level of conviction from Moore that Rowley went on to applaud.
Lewis Dodd was held up over the line thanks to a brilliant Arthur Mourgue tackle, something Wellens labelled as a “key moment” his side failed to take, before Ikuvalu helped the Dragons re-take the lead before Mourgue’s penalty cemented the 14-8 victory.
Speaking to SaintsTV, Wellens was asked if he felt his side had ‘beat themselves’, to which he answered: “That’s how it feels. Again, I don’t want to take anything away from the opposition, but that’s my overriding emotion.”
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