Makinson thanks Nathan Brown after St Helens claim Super League title

St Helens winger Tommy Makinson has hailed Nathan Brown, following the Saints’ 14-6 win over Wigan in Saturday’s Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Brown is now set to leave Langtree Park and return to Australia, and Makinson is grateful for all of his coach’s efforts over the last couple of seasons.

“Nathan’s the man,” said Makinson.

“He’s done a lot for me, and the young fellas. Even the old fellas have learned a lot from him.

“It’s for him as well, and he’ll be going to back to Australia with a Grand Final trophy and the League Leaders Shield, so he won’t be complaining.”

Makinson was especially pleased to claim the Super League title after a season in which Saints had to readjust their line-up frequently due to a crippling injury list.

“You earn the rub of the green, you earn your luck, and maybe we got that in the end,” he added.

“Sia Soliola went over, and I went over, and the rest is history.

“We’ve had a lot of doubters over the year, and losing Luke Walsh, Jon Wilkin and Jonny Lomax meant that everyone wrote us off.

“It means so much, especially for the likes of Paul Wellens and James Roby who’ve been here 13 years and lost seven in a row.

“To get it for them tonight is special.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic, it’s what dreams are made of, I’m so happy.

“I finally get a ring. For the fans it’s brilliant.

“My first Grand Final here in 2011 against Leeds I lost, and to finally get my own back here is a special moment.

“It took a lot of guts and determination to come back, we knew they had 12 men, but we knew what we had in the tank.

“We wore them down in the end and got the win.”