Wellens Q&A: Coach’s assessment at Super League mid-point

SAINTS coach Paul Wellens was pleased with several aspects of his side’s nine-try romp in the capital, beating London Broncos 52-6.

He covered the contribution of Daryl Clark, how Moses Mbye is excelling in the halves, Saints support play and how young Noah Stephens is establishing himself in the team.

MC: You must be pleased with some aspects your close-quarter passing and support play?

PW: Yes, excellent. We’re doing a really good job of that. Laurent (Frayssinous) has been hammering that message over with the team for a good number of weeks now to really support each other.

And when you got skillful players, particularly through the middle with guys like James Bell, and Agnatius Paasi returning, who’s got an off load, Sione Mata’utia and Curtis Sironen on the edges who can punch holes in the defensive line and get their arms free.

And it’s important you are getting on the ball. It’s important that you are looking for support players. So it’s an area which challenging the team to improve on. And we’re doing that but we need to get better as well.

MC: It has taken Daryl Clark 14 games to get his own Terrace song. The crowd were really lapping it up today. How do you assess what he’s contributed to Saints so far in this half of the season?

PW: I think he’s contributed what we expected him to. He obviously a very experienced player and knows Super League and been around the game a long time, but he has still got that sharpness out of dummy half.

He’s a fantastic support player and obviously three tries in seven minutes is evidence of that.

So it’s great to see him get his rewards.

What I have always said with Daryl is when he goes out onto the field and he commits to doing the tough stuff, when he commits to his defensive work, then the attacking side of things takes care of itself.

 

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