They were $6.50 outsiders. The betting line started gave them 18.5 point start. And yet St Helens, roared home by vociferous travelling support in frantic weather conditions at the foot of the mountains, are world champions.
Lewis Dodd field goal sailed over in Golden Point extra time to win them the game 13-12, and in truth, it would have been a travesty had it finished any other way. They were the better side and deserve every beer they will surely sink.
The Panthers’ final frontier remains out of reach. They lost in 1991, to an all-powerful Wigan side, and again in 2004, at the hands of a rampant Bradford. On both of those occasions, they were the visitors and had the travel aspect against them. Here, there are no excuses.
For Saints, this is their third World Club Challenge title and their greatest achievement, turning over the dominant side in the NRL on their own turf. It is one of the greatest performances by a British team in Australia, certainly since Wigan defeated the Broncos in Brisbane in 1994 and probably before that too.
“I remember watching Wigan beating that great Brisbane team, a victory like that has never happened since – this is a seismic result,” said Saints coss Paul Wellens.
“It’s a monumental victory for us as a club and for the British game. We came over here with a determination of getting a result. We knew we’d have to scrap to keep them out, but this group keeps turning up for each other.”
Ivan Cleary, for his part, knew that this was a champion team that his side had run into.
“Maybe they win it,” he said when asked where Saints would finish in the NRL.
“I think they would get pretty close. They are full of great players, they are a winning club. They deserve to win tonight. It’s hard to say but they would probably go all right.”
The weather, expected to be close to 40 degrees, took unexpected turn after unexpected turn. The heat subsided, the rain came in sideways and lightning delayed the start of the second half. In between, there was a double rainbow and a bright yellow sky.
The match was just as spectacular. Any notions that this was a pre-season trial were dissuaded by the five concussion tests before halftime.
Mitch Kenny and Zac Hosking returned from theirs within the distance, but Taylan May wasn’t so lucky: a knee complaint ended his night early. Fortune did shine on him last year, as the NRL suspension from 2022 that caused so much controversy now matters little, as he’d be injured anyway.
Perhaps only Parramatta have troubled Penrith so much, especially on their own turf, as this Saints team did. The Super League champions – who, remember, are playing off a third of the salary cap – were superb and should have won. They missed two field goal efforts and kept Penrith at bay save for tries from kicks.
Anyone in doubt about the quality of this Saints side were put in their place in the first half. The Super League might not be close to the standard of the NRL across the board, but this St Helens outfit performed better at Panthers Stadium than pretty much anyone to visit in the last three years.
Moreover, they did in a way that might be a blueprint for the more regular visitors to follow. Their defensive shape was consistently challenging for Nathan Cleary et al to deal with: it was a traditional umbrella shape that forced the ball back inside and starved the edges of supply.
They rode their luck a little, with the Panthers able to make line breaks from deep, but the scramble was good enough to survive. With three minutes to go, Morgan Knowles smashed the ball out in a tackle and that was the game.
It might have been a function of their roster weaknesses: Konrad Hurrell, never the best defender, is now both slow and old, so they had to hide him against the rapid left edge attack of the Panthers.
Hurrell was able to show his upside as an attacking threat, barging over in characteristic fashion, and was also able to jam in fast enough to stop his glaring lack of speed being exposed in the first half.
This is exceptional use of video from St Helens: Dane Gagai was used superbly to stop the NSW left edge that was Panthers-heavy in Origin I last year, with Isaah Yeo totally negated. It didn’t matter if Gagai – or Hurrell tonight – didn’t make the tackle stick, because they slowed up the attack sufficiently for the tactic to be successful.
Other teams have tried this. The Titans, also home to some of the worst edge defenders around, actually managed it surprisingly well in their game on the Gold Coast last year before falling to kicks in behind. NSW, you’ll remember, solved the problem the same way in Origin 2.
Imagine you could buy a triple threat fullback, five eighth and halfback with rep experience and three Grand Final wins, who is also just 21 years of age. You can throw in that he was the best on ground against the Panthers in Penrith, the toughest assignment in club rugby league.
That’s available for someone in the NRL in the form of Jack Welsby. The Saints fullback was exceptional, especially in the first half, where he scored a try, set up another for Hurrell and pulled off two miraculous try savers.
He’s got a contract until the end of 2025, but transfer fees talk in the UK and Welsby would be worth every single penny of it. There’s a lot of NRL teams who would pay top dollar for average talent: the best young talent in the world is right there waiting to be made offers he can’t refuse.
As mentioned, few teams have been able to threaten Penrith like Saints did. They asked questions that rarely get asked of side and the answers came, though it took a while. They forced errors with their defence and then built pressure with their attack, but time and again met a defensive unit that had the answers.
There’s not many defences in the NRL that are as cohesive as St Helens’, who have played together and won together for years. But there were issues, too, that Saints have nothing to do with.
Stephen Crichton’s shift to fullback was far from a success, with his passing far too far from the line to force tacklers to stay honest.
Furthermore, they missed him in the centres, as he might well have iced some of the moments on the left edge that Sunia Turuva was unable to make the most of. Jarome Luai was incredibly quiet too, thwarted by the inability of Nathan Cleary to get him good ball.
It was noticeable that, when the tries did come, they were both from kicks that Saints failed to adequately deal with. In regular play, the Panthers got nowhere.
The truth is that the cohesion will come as the season wears on. But the question of whether it will return to the heady heights of 2021 and 2022, with other teams coming back stronger and the Panthers inevitably regressing, is now on the table.
Greg
Guest
I reckon you could put Luke Brooks or Chad in any of those teams and still get the same result.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
not at all in my opinion from his comments he has a dislike of the bloke by calling him average and choosing to highlight the two origin series he lost rather than the three he won hes definitely not a fan plenty of blues sevens would love his record hell do me as a seven and theres plenty of better credentialed people than me rate him better than average i stand by my comments
Baz
Guest
So because he said he's not the best halfback ever he's a hater? Getting a bit defensive.
Ryan
Guest
No I do not propose expanding Belmore or any suburban ground. Like I've said population growth does not equal current population density which is where to build stadiums. Housing estates wont have the same population as apartment blocks. If what was a paddock now has an estate then of course it will have population growth but in the end it will still not compare to any current dense areas and it will still plateau. Feel free to lookup a population density map and tell me Penrith is a prime position to build a new stadium. It makes more economic sense to use Parra, Homebush and and city as these are used for multiple sports and events unlike Penrith which is NRL only 10-12 times per year. Your still getting too emotional and I suggest you read the thread again as all of your points have already been countered. The proof is they got 13000 to a big game yet want a new 30000 seat stadium.
Rob
Guest
Cleary, Alexander, Gower, Wickey. All better than Sam Walker. So that leaves him pretty far down the list.
What the !
Guest
So you say, yet you know nothing about the population growth in the west . From your previous comments. So you mustn’t get out much . You’re suggesting that it’s better to pay about 3 times the amount of money to replace a stadium in inner Sydney, that doesn’t require replacing. Than more than 2 times the amount of money , to replace a stadium that’s already been rebuilt at Parramatta. Than to build cheaper stadiums, in the areas of greatest population growth? Given that the 2 areas of greatest growth around Sydney are the west, southwest, northwest areas & then in the Illawarra. Those are the areas that require actual event centres, stadiums first. Given that the proposed stadium is far cheaper than the others 2 already there. That would also make far more sense from an economic & population growth standpoint. You can’t deny any of that! If you’re a Dogs supporter. I guess your clubs just buying up Penrith developed players coaches , even former player & General manager isn’t enough? You’re just annoyed that there’s no way a new stadium can be put at Belmore. As the Bulldogs were. Not unless they take down lots of peoples houses! Now surely, you wouldn’t propose that? Especially in an area that’s not getting any bigger. :thumbup:
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
they were beaten in golden point by the 4 time super league champions and you come to that conclusion wow just another hater and may i add a poor judge of a footballer just to remind you as a seven he has won three origin series two premierships a clive churchill medal and a world cup please enlighten me with your wisdom and tell me who you rate in front of him at the moment
Cat Brown
Guest
Once again Nathan Cleary has been shown to be an average halfback. Unable to take control just like State of Origin. Please stop trying to make him the best halfback ever. He isn't and will never be
James
Roar Rookie
Look at the talent that has come from Saints' youth system, with an increase in cap they would more than compete in the NRL. It's alright saying that the game was only pre-season and its a different game come April but remember, if St Helens played for a full year through the winter they would improve too.
Ryan
Guest
Wrong conclusion Sherlock,not Conelius and have lived and worked in Penrith/Blacktown/Liverpool area for last 30 years, Bulldogs fan too as parents grew up in the area. Appreciate your passion but your getting emotional about the same blueprint nearly every city in the world follows about building stadiums in population dense areas. If they redo Penrith should we redo every suburban ground?
What the !
Guest
You & Conelius are the same person. The Roosters supporter, from the eastern suburbs. So no point even discussing anything to do with the West with you. Doubt you’ve even ever gone on the M4 , or as far along Victoria Road as Birkenhead Point . Maybe you’ll find something other than looking to have a go at Penrith ,sometime ? Now that you’ve covered their games, players, jersey, non existent new stadium. What else is there?
criag
Roar Rookie
:happy:
Ryan
Guest
The population growth looks impressive percentage wise because where there was once paddocks there are houses. The estate's will never be as population dense as units and apartments such as Parramatta and city which is why it makes more sense to have big stadiums there and like I said is used for different events.
What the !
Guest
The growth is happening now & has been for many years All you have to do is actually take a drive in any direction towards the west & see it for yourself. You’re talking about one crowd for a 37 degree day, for what was basically a pre season game. How were the other pre season game crowds? You obviously have zero idea of the growth of population & new estates all though the west , north west , southwest. As you can tell from your ridiculous statements. So why bother making any comments on a topic you know nothing about?
Ryan
Guest
Still doesn't explain this low crowd for this game. The key word used is growth which means it will be needed in future but not now. The other stadiums are used for multiple league teams,finals,concerts, rugby and soccer not just 11 or 12 games per year. Penriths on the very edge while city will always draw crowds and Parra is geographical centre of Sydney. Both areas are much more population dense then Penrith so it makes a lot more sense to upgrade stadiums here.
What the !
Guest
The stadium in Sydney, cost $874 million. The stadium for Penrith, $300 million. The stadium in Penrith will hold about 30,000 . You get almost 3 new similar venues in various areas , for the cost of the Sydney Allianz Stadium. Which holds 45,000. Tell me how that’s good value for money ? The Roosters could have fitted in almost 3 times their home crowd average attendance into that 45,000 seat stadium, for the 2022 season. Sydney west population growth : Its population is projected to reach 3 million by 2036 and to absorb two thirds of the population growth in the Sydney region - making the region one of the largest growing urban populations in Australia. Penrith have had basically the same stadium, since 1967. Where are the stadiums in Sydney & Parramatta have been replaced twice! Tell me again, why the people in an area with an actual large population growth , don’t deserve a decent venue? Not only for NRL , but for other events. Especially when Penrith pay for the use of their stadium, as opposed to many other clubs.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
You get to show your class way more often.
Ellen from St Helens
Guest
St Helens won due to their superior junior base, they are basically supporting the whole comp. The government needs to make laws stopping these player being poached as it is not fair. I will now comment on every story on the roar relating it back to St Helens. If another team or another clubs player is given any credit I will bring up hand-picked stats to prove they are not as good as the St Helens players.Also the St Helens number 7 is the greatest player/human/mammal of all time in the universe.
Panthers Fan
Guest
St Helens were the better team, no excuses but... I will point out a few things that happened to the Panthers which have never happened to any other team ever. The ref made calls I didn't agree with,Panthers lost players from last years squad, St Helens used an interchange in golden point, the Panthers weren't ready yet, they had a busy off season and it also rained. All teams fans are whingers except Panthers.
Craig
Guest
John Plath's better as he won 4 premierships.