Super League: St Helens' Nathan Brown says all the pressure on Wigan in Grand Final
Friday 10 October 2014 10:11, UK
St Helens head coach Nathan Brown insists all the pressure will be on Wigan Warriors in Saturday evening’s mouth-watering Grand Final at Old Trafford.
Although Saints are the League Leaders’ Shield winners many are backing reigning champions Wigan, who finished second in the table, to make it back-to-back crowns.
St Helens will be without key duo Jonny Lomax and Luke Walsh for their Warriors showdown and Brown credits veterans Paul Wellens, James Roby and Jon Wilkin for helping lead the team from the front.
Brown, who is leaving Langtree Park at the end of the season to return to Australia, has no problems being the underdogs on Saturday, stating his players are already winners.
“No one is tipping us; there isn't a soul that is backing us,” Brown told the club’s official website.
No pressure
“From a pressure point of view there isn't any on us as no one is expecting us to win. A few weeks ago Wigan would have rubbed their hands at playing us in a Grand Final.
“Well, this squad didn't believe what people were saying and now we are here. We will be giving it our best shot. We are tipping ourselves.
“Winning the League Leaders' Shield and making the Grand Final... I think the boys are winners already.
“Not one person in England thought we would win the Shield and not one person thought we would be here. We have defied a lot of people with what we have done without some of our more influential players.
“Credit must go to Paul Wellens, James Roby and Jon Wilkin; those blokes that came through the successful era. They have shown great desire and spirit and it has rubbed off on everyone.”
