LAST year was a super season for Saints - and nothing summed it up more than the sight of 6,000 travelling fans crammed into the DW Stadium on Good Friday.
SAINTS stretched their lead at the Super league summit with a 36-10 thrashing of Wigan.
An early James Roby try set the ball rolling.
Although Zak Hardaker pulled one back Regan Grace scored the first two of his three tries to give Saints a comfortable 18-4 lead.
George Williams pinched one on the break, but second half was a total Saints masterclass with Makinson, Grace and Lachlan Coote completing the final score.
No wonder coach Justin Holbrook was a happy man after watching that.
Saints were in control from the off – and even though they gave Wigan a slender toe-hold on the stroke of half time, it was a very one-sided contested with some stand-out players in the ranks.
Holbrook praised the contribution of Lachlan Coote – the current man of the moment.
He said: “He is awesome. I have said every week he is a calming influence on our side and keeps us in control.
“He comes in and plays a big part in the way we are playing and was fantastic again today.
“And Regan Grace is playing really well too and finishing off some good tries.
“He is such a good player to watch run the ball – he is exciting and quick. That was a great try of his in the second half in particular.
“Morgan Knowles is the most underrated player in Super League. You talk about Great Britain tours but he would be the first player I would pick. He is that good.
“Right from the start of pre-season he has worked so hard and been such a pleasure to coach. Our whole forward pack is playing well and he is a big part of that.”
After beating Warrington last week, backing up with a victory over Wigan in front of a 22,000 gate has put a real spring in everyone’s step.
The coach is among those feeling it.
“It is a good feeling at the moment – and it was a cracking atmosphere here today,” Holbrook said.
“To have so many of our fans turn out today was massive and that was a credit to our players that they want to come and watch them play.”
All pictures in the attached gallery by Bernard Platt.
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