The Saints defeated Hull on Thursday night.
Zak Hardaker in action for Hull FC.(Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
St Helens sit top of Super League this Friday morning.
It’s a remarkable feat given all the adversity the they have faced on the injury front this season. They’ve lost big players by the week and are still without several key man – but they rallied again and turned a 12-6 half time defect at Hull FC into a 24-14 victory.
They’re also in the Challenge Cup semi-final and look well poised to make a fit on both fronts this year. As the old adage goes: Never write off the Saints.
“That’s what they say,” Rowley, smirked to All Out Rugby League. “We’re delighted with it (being top of Super League) without getting carried away.
“It’s a real tribute to the lads and the exciting bit is, and it won’t just happen, that we’ll get players back and we’ll automatically go to a different level.
“We’re aware that takes hard work and new players coming back in will have to find their feet, so to speak, and come into a way that’s probably changed a little bit how we play.
“There’s still loads of hard work ahead, but the exciting bit is there’s definitely another level to go to, and fresh bodies and competition more than anything.
“The lads who are coming in aren’t necessarily going to be ‘right, you’re out, you’re in’. It’s going to provide competition, intensity to training, and all those contributing factors should, and hopefully will, contribute to us improving and performing better when it matters.”
Those conundrums are going to be lost welcome for Rowley, who has selected who has been fit at times rather than debate away at his options.
“I absolutely hope so,” he continued. “That would be great. That’s what we’re looking for, a lot of selection headaches because we’ve got a lot of fit bodies, and we’re in a good spot.”
As for Thursday’s clash, Saints had to weather a Hull storm early on. The home side lead twice after Logan Moy and Amir Bourouh tries with Jake Davies hitting back. Noah Stephens then levelled the scores in the second half before Botha died exchanged penalty goals. Kyle Feldt then scored a crucial try with Harry Robertson cementing the win late on.
“They’re a good group, so generally they know where we were going wrong and how to fix it,” Rowley said when asked what he said at half time. “But as coaching staff, myself, Eamon, and Lee, it was a really easy half-time for us.
“We were down there a couple of minutes and we’re out of there.
“I thought they were very good, so credit to Hull in that respect. We just wanted to get them into a grind for longer periods and be a little bit more consistent in how we were going about our business.
“We had to find a different way and credit to Hull again, what they did defensively. They challenged us, but we found our rhythm in that second-half.
“I’m made-up with it, to be honest, for the lads really, because I think as a club we’ve done it tough and I think they deserve that result.
“They deserve to go into a break, which they’ve got now, a three or four day break, with a good feeling and I’m really pleased for them.”
Rowley all aired his support for opposite man John Cartwright, with speculation mounting that he coached his last game at the Black and Whites.
“We knew it’d be an emotional night in that respect, and that would add to the start in particular that Hull would produce,” Rowley added. “And they did just that, so there were no surprises there, but John, like all coaches in Super League, is a good bloke who works hard.
“And as coaches, we all have sympathy and empathy for everyone’s situation, but we know what the job’s about, and we as a club, and I as an individual in the coaching team, wish him all the best.
“We wish Hull all the best as well with the rest of their season and their future.”