Jon Wilkin warns St Helens could get WORSE in brutal takedown of ‘disconnected’ club

St Helens legend Jon Wilkin has once again delivered a passionate putdown of the club after their season reached a new low on Thursday: and has suggested the worst may still be yet to come.

The Saints’ play-off hopes appear to be in absolute tatters after they were embarrassed at home to Hull FC, losing 32-18 at the BrewDog Stadium before being booed off at full-time again.

It means the likelihood of their record of making the play-offs in every single Super League season – a record that dates back to the 1960s – is now increasingly likely to be disappearing in the next six weeks.

And Wilkin has not held back after the game – warning this may not be the bottom.

Jon Wilkin’s passionate St Helens address

Wilkin said: “Quite simply, those players, this club, none of this is good enough. It never was, it never has been.”

He then referenced the reaction to last week’s loss at York, saying: “It’s not acceptable. When you start accepting it and saying we tried really hard against York in a loss.. wow. That’s language on the retreat.

“That change needs to happen quickly. The real worry for me is that this isn’t the bottom yet. In 2027, recruitment if it hasn’t happened now, where is it happening? I think you need to set higher standards of when you recruit and how you recruit.”

Wilkin again insisted talk of the Saints showing effort in the loss at York was nowhere near enough.

He said: “It’s your job, right? When you start talking about effort, you’re done anyway. The club has got a job on to turn the attitude and atmosphere around. There are teams developing languages and narratives below them.. but the match-day experience here is almost non-existent at times.”

Wilkin hits out at Saints recruitment again

Wilkin also insisted that the Saints’ recruitment over a prolonged period of time has not been good enough – and even with everyone available, the club would only have a squad that would finish in the lower end of the top six.

He said: “There’s a gap between the fans and the club at the minute. There’s a dramatic drop-off and it’s fundamental you retain and recruit season ticket holders and casual fans to stadiums. It’s the team, for sure, but there’s more going on than that.

“That’s alarming for me. That’s alarming. The acceptance of the York defeat alarms me. It’s un-St Helens like in every aspect. There is enough quality on the pitch to roll over and beat Hull. They just had their team roll over and have their bellies scratched by Hull FC.”

“But why this story is interesting about this club is because it’s so recent in our memories of them doing the four in a row.

“I believe they’re the fifth-best in the league. If they play to their potential. Their squad is fourth, fifth or sixth best. And it’s not there so they’re seventh in the league. Is that enough for this club? I don’t think it is. And I think they need to set higher standards for how they recruit.”