PAUL Wellens turned the heat on St Helens’ defence after they slumped to another defeat against Warrington Wolves in Thursday’s Betfred Super League encounter.
Despite the Wolves being without star half George Williams and losing Marc Sneyd to a fractured eye socket, along with picking up other injuries in the game, Saints were blown away in the second half as they went down 32-18 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium to the team which began the night ninth in the table.
It follows defeats to local rivals Warrington in both Super League and the Betfred Challenge Cup in the past month, and head coach Wellens was annoyed by his side’s attitude to defending in the match.
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“We’ve changed a lot and we continue to work hard each week,” Wellens told Sky Sports.
“[Assistant coach Lee Briers] has done a lot of work on us throughout the course of the season and pre-season in how we can improve our attack.
“But to be able to give ourselves a chance with the ball, they’ve got to first of all hold it, and secondly turn up with a defensive attitude.
“We did neither of those.”
The defeat means St Helens have now suffered seven straight losses in all competitions to Warrington, who moved level on points with Super League’s fifth-placed team.
Throw in Hull KR and fierce rivals Wigan Warriors, and the 10-time Super League champions have now lost 13 consecutive games against the sides which finished in the top three in 2024 as well.
Wellens put the issues in defence against the Wolves down to individuals trying to take matters into their own hands.
“We had a couple of decisions go against us, which happens in games – that’s not a complaint, but we don’t respond to them well enough,” Wellens said.
“I think there was a little bit of frustration which crept into the team, and it’s honourable when people want to go try solve things, but you’re solving it on your own.
“That invariably leads to more confusion or disruption and it spirals from there.”
