St Helens refreshed for Rhinos challenge

St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham believes his players will benefit from having some time off over the last fortnight.

The Challenge Cup final means that Saints’ last game was the defeat to Huddersfield on August 20.

Prior to that, Saints had also lost Super League games to Hull FC and Catalans, as well as the Challenge Cup semi-final against Leeds.

With a trip to Headingley to face the Rhinos next up for his team on Friday, Cunningham is anticipating an improved display from his players.

“We’ve been working quite hard in the office, trying to look at everything we can and get things ready for the team,” he said.

“The team have been having a bit of a break, and they came back in at the back end of last week and we did some real tough work.

“Then we gave them the weekend off, and they came back in on Monday, and they look revitalised.

“They looked like a different team on Monday, so the break was good for us.

“We’ve not missed a game this season. We played in the World Club Challenge and the Challenge Cup semi-final, and the only game we’ve missed is the Cup final.

“We’ve been involved in a lot of rugby league.

“We’ve had a hangover since that semi-final a little bit, we’ve just not been quite at the races.

“But we’re not far off.”

Cunningham does not mind other people understimating his team, however, and would relish the ‘underdog’ label as the business end of the season comes ever closer.

“Everybody seems very dour about the situation we’re in, and everybody’s written us off,” he added.

“We’re quite happy about that. We’re happy that’s what everyone thinks. We want to be underdogs.

“We want everybody else to write us off, and then to wipe the smirk off people’s faces.”