Keiron Cunningham proud of St Helens despite loss to Roosters
Saturday 20 February 2016 13:27, UK
St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham insists he is proud of his players and that their 38-12 loss to Sydney Roosters is not a true reflection of the game.
The Roosters continued Australia's domination of the World Club Series with a clinical 38-12 thrashing of St Helens on Friday at Langtree Park.
Cunningham had called on Saints to bounce back against the Roosters after their 44-10 loss to Salford last weekend, and the Saints coach says that is exactly what they did.
"I thought we started outstanding," Cunningham told Sky Sports.
"I asked the players for a response from last week and I thought we were really physical. I think it was a bit of a tough call on those repeat sets but you have got to ride those. They hurt us a bit because we are playing against a very good side, a clinical side - their outside backs were brilliant.
"They took their chances - I have never seen so many tries against the run of play. The Roosters are a world class side and you have to be so clinical against sides like them - every bounce of the ball that went against us, they went down the other end and scored.
"I don't think it was a true reflection of the game and I am proud of what my players did tonight.
"It would have been easy for us not to turn up and I think as a group of players they all got together, decided what they wanted to do and did it the tough way. If we play anything remotely like that in Super League, then we will be very good."
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