Super League: Jon Wilkin admits champions St Helens must improve
Thursday 5 February 2015 15:48, UK
New St Helens captain Jon Wilkin believes the Super League champions must discover a ruthless streak if they are to retain their crown.
Wilkin, who has taken over the captaincy from Paul Wellens under a new coaching team of Keiron Cunningham and Sean Long, admits improvements must be made as Saints prepare to open their campaign against Catalans Dragons at Langtree Park on Friday night.
"It doesn't get easier," Wilkin said. "Every season is a different challenge and this year I think with 12 teams it's possibly going to be the most intense season that I've been involved in.
"If you want to lift the title back to back, you've got to not settle for the standards that got us the trophy last year. We need to improve and set a much higher benchmark. That's the honest truth.
"We played well for large parts of last year but there were areas where we had fluctuations in personnel and form and, for me as captain this year, I want to make sure there are as few fluctuations in form as possible and maintain an intensity and concentration and a ruthless edge that maybe we didn't have last year."
Stern test
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Wilkin expects a stern test from the Dragons who were one of the form teams towards the end of last season before running out of steam in the play-off semi-finals as they lost 30-12 to Saints at Langtree Park.
The capture of one-time international player of the year Todd Carney, along with fellow Australian Willie Tonga, allied to the return of French prop Remi Casty, has raised expectations in France to new heights.
"I think they've recruited fantastically well," Wilkin said. "They've got a real smart player in Carney, who is a running threat and probably what they needed to complement Scotty Dureau.
"They've also got Willie Tonga coming into the side and, with the way Zeb Taia and Elliott Whitehead finished the season, they've got strike across the park.
"We're well aware of how strong they are and, as a result, we're prepping for a massive first game of the season. A lot of the talk has been about Catalans Dragons and how well they've recruited and it's a huge opportunity for us. With a fully-fit squad, St Helens are as good as anybody out there."
Watch St Helens v Catalans Dragons live on Sky Sports 1 at 8pm on Friday.
