2014 St Helens RLFC season

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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. attendance12,063
High attendance17,980 (vs Wigan Warriors, 18 April 2014)
Top scorers
TriesTom Makinson (28)
GoalsLuke Walsh (70)
PointsLuke 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.[1]

2014 transfers[edit]

Players In

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

Players Out

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

2014 squad[edit]

* 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[edit]

Technical staff[edit]

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

[2]

Boardroom staff[edit]

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

[3]

Pre Season[edit]

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[edit]

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[a] Relegation to Championship
14 London Broncos (R) 27 1 0 26 438 1237 −799 2
Source: [5]
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Bradford Bulls deducted 6 points on 25 February 2014 for entering administration[4]

Super League XIX – Play-Off Series[edit]

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[edit]

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]

References[edit]

  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.
  5. ^ Super League XIX 2014
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