GEORGE Whitby hailed the advice of St Helens attack coach Lee Briers after playing a starring role in their 26-14 victory at home to Wakefield Trinity on Friday.
The 18-year-old was playing only his second Betfred Super League match after taking his place in the halves in a reshuffled team following last week’s Betfred Challenge Cup exit at the hands of Warrington Wolves.
Whitby’s in-play kicking caused all sorts of problems for Wakefield along with landing five goals as Saints returned to winning ways, moving up to third in the table, and he was quick to praise former half-back Briers with instilling the confidence in him to dominate in that way.
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“Briersy has really helped me with that,” Whitby told Sky Sports.
“He’s just given me that confidence in my kicking game, saying I’m a dominant kicker.
“Thankfully I stuck to the gameplan and was really consistent and I thought I put Wakefield under a lot of pressure.
“I was really happy with how I executed the gameplan.”
Whitby lined up in the halves alongside Jack Welsby, with Tristan Sailor switching to full-back and captain Jonny Lomax being left out of the matchday squad altogether.
Head coach Paul Wellens revealed Lomax was rested due to injury, with the Good Friday derby away to Wigan Warriors looming large.
“[Whitby has] been patient for his opportunity and we felt tonight was the right night for him,” Wellens told Sky Sports.
“With Jonny, there was always a stage of the year we were going to give George Whitby a playing opportunity.
“Jonny is a 34-year-old seasoned pro who has been around for a long time now, he picked up an ankle injury in the game at the weekend.
“He could have played, but we felt the time was right to give George an opportunity and that’s exactly what we did.”
If Lomax’s ankle has still not recovered in time to face Wigan, Whitby feels more than ready to step up to face the reigning Super League champions, who ended Hull KR’s unbeaten start to the season with a 28-12 victory at Sewell Group Craven Park in Friday’s other Round 7 match.
“I take it week by week and all our focus was on this game, but if that opportunity comes I’ll be really happy to take it,” Whitby said.
“We’ve got top players in this squad and I’m sure we’ll all be up for a Good Friday derby. It’s really exciting.”
ST HELENS 26 (M Knowles, M Whitley 2, H Robertson tries, G Whitby 5 goals) beat WAKEFIELD TRINITY 14 (O Pratt 2 tries, M Lino 2 goals) at Totally Wicked Stadium. Referee: T Grant.
