Cunningham: Fages already a “top player”

MJ Black

St Helens boss Keiron Cunningham praised Theo Fages after the French star created the game-winning try at Catalan Dragons on Saturday.

Saints looked to be heading for their fourth defeat in a row, but Fages spared their blushes by setting up Jack Owens to score the winner eight minutes from time.

The former Salford half-back joined Saints last year for an undisclosed fee and Cunningham is delighted with the impact he’s having.

“Theo has been brilliant since he came to the club – you forget how young he is, he still has lots of learning to do but he’s already a top player for us,” said Cunningham.

“Not only does he set up the match-winning try for us, but he scrambles at the end to make a defensive play and saves a try.”

Adam Swift, Mark Percival, Ryan Morgan and Adam Walker also bagged tries as the Saints recorded a 28-24 win to move up to eighth in the table.

Cunningham hailed his team’s outstanding effort during the game and said it was a well-earned two points.

“I thought we were the better team, and if we had not have won the game I think that would have been undeserved,” he said.

“We had plenty of opportunities, we took some and wasted a few and I’m glad we saw the game through in the end. It was a true gritty performance from us.”

“We knew it was going to be tough, it has not been a happy hunting ground for us over here in France over the past few years.

“We had a lot stacked up against us with a couple of losses in recent weeks and I’m proud of what the players did and I really think they deserved the win.”

Super League St Helens