St Helens legend Jon Wilkin has given a brutally honest review of his former club following their round one defeat to Warrington Wolves, though he’s targeted their off-field conduct as opposed to their on-field showing.
The Red Vee were dismantled by Sam Burgess’ men, as they suffered a 24-14 loss in what was Paul Rowley’s first Super League game in charge of the club.
Following that loss, which some could say was unexpected, former Saints forward Wilkin commented on the current state of the club, and how it has gone about his business in the past 12 months.
The 42-year-old believes the club have acted wrongly towards two club legends in Paul Wellens and Mark Percival, with both men mistreated in his opinion.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the Saints defeat, Wilkin argued: “The club needs change, and there will be change at a top level in the club.
“I look back to last year, the Paul Wellens sacking and how that was dealt with.
“They ran Paul down to the death and then told a legend of the club that he’s going, when they knew he was going in summer.”
Expanding on that, Wilkin claimed: “They told him if he got to the Grand Final, he would have a job, and I don’t believe that to be true. I believe that there was already decisions being made to bring in coaching.”
Jon Wilkin tears into St Helens
Of course, these are only allegations made by Wilkin, and St Helens have neither confirmed or denied whether his version of events is correct.
The 2006 treble winner also claimed that an agreed contract for centre Mark Percival has now “gone missing” – with that claim coming at the same time that the centre is reportedly being on the outer.
Wilkin revealed: “Mark Percival signed a contract in August last year that’s gone missing. All of a sudden now he’s on the out.
“Things need to change at that club if that’s how they’ve operated and look after their people, and it’s not good enough in any work place. I hire people and that’s simply not good enough.
“Mark Percival is a man who’s put his body on the line for the club, and has been one of the legends of this club, and I just think we need to look after their people better.”
Giving Saints credit, Wilkin did explain how things at the Red Vee are changing for the better, and it comes at a much-needed time, given that such a historic club has now gone over three years without reaching a major final.
“Things are changing and Paul Rowley is a smart guy”, said the pundit, adding: “He will come in as a head coach and will change things.
“But the club, I think, systemically needs some change in that department. I think the club just needs a shake up and Paul Rowley is the first part of that.
“There’s lots going on behind the scenes. They do some fantastic things. The club are an amazing club. It gave me so many amazing years in my life. But things change, don’t they?
“The expectations of how we look after people in life changes. And I expect better.”
