{"id":651114,"date":"2026-06-21T20:50:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T20:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/651114\/"},"modified":"2026-06-21T20:50:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T20:50:14","slug":"paul-rowley-dissects-ugly-st-helens-win-as-possible-season-ending-injury-confirmed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/651114\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Rowley dissects \u2018ugly\u2019 St Helens win as possible season-ending injury confirmed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

St Helens head coach Paul Rowley watched his side end their losing run in Super League with a win over Huddersfield Giants, however, he wasn\u2019t particularly happy with his side\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n

Saints ran out as 38-6 winners<\/a> but the scoreline didn\u2019t necessarily reflect the game with the Red Vee tacking a lot of those points on late.<\/p>\n

When speaking post-match on Sky Sports, Rowley confirmed it to be the \u2018most frustrating game of the year\u2019 from a collective point of view, admitting that it was \u2018ugly\u2019.<\/p>\n

He explained: \u201cThere were things that were good, individuals that were good, so some individual performances out there, but I think collectively it was probably the most frustrating game of the year for me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t enjoy it at all. I\u2019ve got to try and put a smile on, but always be honest because there were some really ugly parts from us in that game that really gifted Huddersfield a lot of opportunities, and probably put us to the sword a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for what the positives were, he added:\u00a0\u201cThe positives are that we dug in and found a way to keep them away from our line, after giving away so much territory and possession but it was just ugly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sir Kevin Sinfield, play-off race heats up and who can stop Wigan Warriors?\u00a0\u2013 Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show.<\/a><\/p>\n

St Helens still not playing the Paul Rowley way<\/p>\n

One of the biggest frustrations for Rowley was that his side are currently, or at least today were, unable to play in the style that he became renowned for at Salford, something he attributed to a lack of bodies but also a lack of execution and smarts.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI want to play this game a certain way, and at the minute we\u2019re not playing that way, and we just need to express ourselves in a different manner and play a little bit smarter. The players are better than what they showed today, and they know that and I know that, so we\u2019ll keep working hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for how close Saints are to playing in a Paul Rowley style, he admitted: \u201c(We\u2019re) a mile off, to be honest, but you\u2019ve got to understand sometimes when you build a team from scratch, in terms of playing personnel, then that\u2019s quite a bit easier because you can bring the players in that fit that way, so to speak.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mentality is to kind of find a hybrid, so a little bit more expressive, but not try and change the world with a set of players that are already good and perform well and good in their own right. But over time, I\u2019ll fix that up and it\u2019ll look a little more like my team. That\u2019ll be through practise, that\u2019ll be through review, and that\u2019ll be, if needed, then it\u2019ll be through change.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a strong statement in itself with the suggestion being that the team could change plenty in the off-season to better suit the style of play that suits Rowley.<\/p>\n

Season-ending injury confirmed but Rowley remains bullish<\/p>\n

As for the current squad, Rowley conceded that injuries are again mounting, even joking that he almost had to call up commentator Terry O\u2019Connor to get his boots out.<\/p>\n

It had been confirmed pre-match that Matt Whitley and George Whitby pulled out in the captain\u2019s run whilst Deon Cross was ruled out for the season in mid-week.<\/p>\n

On the injuries, Rowley said:\u00a0\u201c(Matt) Whitley yesterday, he pulled out a team run, he\u2019s got a wrist injury there. That could be season-ending to be fair. Deon (Cross) is season-ending, he\u2019s had a bicep repair. George Whitby pulled out yesterday, so we\u2019re waiting for further inspection on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the in-game blows, he added: \u201cI\u2019ve not heard back from Percy (Mark Percival) yet, but it doesn\u2019t take a rocket scientist to see that that looked like a bit of an hamstring problem going on there, so they\u2019re never short.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more chaotic it gets, you start getting a little bit more bullish. I\u2019ve said this in the week, so I\u2019m all right with that. I\u2019ve been through stuff like this before and we\u2019ll just keep chipping away.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe trick is, even if it\u2019s struggling, in turmoil and adversity, just keep trying to chip the wins away. We\u2019re still sat in a pretty position without playing pretty, so it\u2019s not too bad. There\u2019s a lot positives.\u201d<\/p>\n

.@Saints1890<\/a> see out a victory in the sunshine \ud83d\udc4f#SuperLeague<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CWGATRILyb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t