Cunningham: We’re a different side

Correspondent

St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham believes Saints are a different team to the one that was beaten by Catalans in June.

In the last encounter between the two sides, the Dragons prevailed 33-16 in Perpignan.

Catalans also defeated St Helens 16-30 at Langtree Park in April.

But Cunningham says Saints are a different proposition now.

“They’ve definitely got the wood over us in the last couple of games and I don’t think we did ourselves any sort of justice at home,” he said.

“I thought we were a little bit under strength, we had some juniors out there in certain positions and coming off the back of another good Warrington win last time we played them.

“We backed up with some kids and they got a little bit picked on by the likes of Todd Carney, but we are a different team to what we seen on that day.

“We’re back at Langtree Park, we’ve been away from home for about a month and now we’re back there in front of a great crowd.

“It’s a special game, it does mean a fair bit but all we can take care of is what we can take care of.

“We can’t look at the results, we can’t look at the ifs and buts, we’ve got to look at what we can do on the day and how we can affect the way the game’s going to go.”

St Helens head into the match with six wins on the trot. Both clubs are battling for a place in the top four.

Catalans have just ended a six-game losing streak, after beating Widnes in France.

“It was a very hot day in Perpignan, I was watching the game on TV and was almost glad for my players that they didn’t have to go out there,” Cunningham said.

“They did a job against Widnes and scored some good tries. Catalans are a very good side across the board.

“By the looks of it they’re pretty much fully stacked and I’d imagine [Richie] Myler might be back this week as well.

“So they come in they have a full side here but we’re pretty much fully fit as well so it’s going to be whichever side wins that middle wins the game, and we’d like to think we can do that job.”