Keiron Cunningham blasts 'weak' St Helens after Huddersfield draw

Keiron Cunningham felt St Helens should have been celebrating a 40-point victory rather than licking their wounds after struggling Huddersfield fought back to earn a 14-14 draw.

A Theo Fages double and Adam Swift's 74th try on his 100th appearance left Saints on course to bounce back from last week's defeat at Salford.

But young Giants full-back Darnell McIntosh scored a double and helped lay on the game-levelling try for Sam Wood as Huddersfield wiped out a 14-point half-time deficit.

It would have been worse for Saints had Danny Brough converted from the touchline but Cunningham found it difficult to take the positives.

"I've never seen a more dominant side not score more points," said Cunningham.

"Our completion rate went from nearly 90 per cent in the first half to 33 per cent, which is disgusting at any level.

"The mentality of the players was really weak in that second half. They thought the job was done in the first half.

"The game should have been killed off after half-time. That should have been a 40-point ballgame, no problem at all.

"But we just weren't good enough or disciplined enough and were lucky to get the draw in the end. We came out with a point but it feels like a loss.

"I say it to the group all the time, the team that usually beats us is the one looking back in the mirror."

Cunningham has been criticised for a lack of adventure in attack, and an average of only 17 points across the first eight matches that have yielded only three wins has done little to appease Saints fans.

"If you don't win, it's a results-based industry and you are going to be under pressure," he added.

"But it's derby day (against Wigan) next week and we'll get ready for that after we've licked our wounds.

"I'm more than confident the group will turn it around."

Huddersfield are now without a win in six Super League matches but coach Rick Stone felt his side's commitment to reversing their fortunes was clear to see.

"At 14-0, particularly after the last couple of weeks, we were still positive in the sheds at half-time," Stone said.

"It will be a nice step in the right direction considering what has been going on.

"The effort was pretty good. Clinically we weren't perfect but overall for the 80 minutes everyone made sure their effort was up to the mark."

McIntosh was Huddersfield's standout player during a tough first half and then showed his quality in attack after the break to inspire an unlikely comeback.

Stone added: "He is a work in progress. He has plenty of talent and courage.

"He still has a bit to learn as a full-back. It's a tough position for a 19-year-old to be thrown into in Super League. But he has managed it okay."

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