Simmons aware of Saints’ inconsistency

St Helens coach Royce Simmons admits his team are not firing on all cylinders early in the season.

Saints are one of only two teams leading Super League with two wins from two games. However Simmons has admitted his side have only just done enough to win those matches.

He said: “We’re playing good periods of football but not 80 minutes of football, that’s what we’re trying to work on.

“Our execution is just a little bit off in a few areas which you would expect at this time of year. In the wet and windy conditions execution is never as easy as on a dry pitch, as the players would know who played 20 years ago.”

Saints travelled to London in the opening round, and were pushed all the way by a spirited Broncos team. In Langtree Park’s opening Super League game Salford took a surprise 10-0 lead in front of the television cameras, before Saints found the spirit that has taken them to six consecutive Grand Finals and eventually won the game 38-10.

Despite being under pressure in both games, Simmons believes that is self inflicted through errors and his side need to control the ball a lot better than they have so far this season.

He said: “You do get slow if you don’t control the ball. If you are fatigued from turning the ball over you don’t play with nay brains.

“We tried to come up with a few big hits or tried to do something ourselves attacking wise as individuals.

“It was great motivation for Salford to come here and upset you, so they’ve come with a lot of effort and commitment. We came with a lot of commitment but didn’t play as a team. But after half time we fell into control and played some very good footy in the second half.”