St Helens coach Nathan Brown knows that his side need to head into Thursday night’s encounter with London Broncos with the right attitude if they are to end a three-game losing streak.
“We were the best side in the comp for five weeks and then we toughed out some wins without playing as well as we know we can. We haven’t regained that momentum yet,” said Brown.
“We just haven’t been good enough to beat Wigan and Leeds in two very good games.
“We do a lot of good stuff in defence but there are some minor issues. It isn’t one individual, we have some brain snaps. When you leak a couple of early tries against good sides you lose service and are chasing hard to break back. We have to start the game better. We are all responsible for it – the coaches, staff and playing group – and we are looking at how we can do it better.
“London had a difficult start to the season but have made a lot of improvements. They led Wigan and Warrington for a while in their matches, and nearly beat Catalan too.
“Their players turn up with the attitude to do their best and when you’re hungry like that you give yourselves a good shot. It’s a game where we will need turn up with the same attitude as if we’re playing a Leeds or Wigan. If we don’t we will get ourselves in trouble.”
Brown has been left counting the cost of Saturday’s Challenge Cup defeat to Leeds Rhinos, losing both Kyle Amor (knee) and Jordan Turner (broken foot) for extended periods. Willie Manu and Anthony Laffranchi also miss out on Thursday due to injury, leading to call ups for Mark Flanagan, Anthony Walker, Carl Forster and Andre Savelio.
St Helens’ 19 man squad to face London Broncos is: Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson, Josh Jones, Adam Swift, Lance Hohaia, Luke Walsh, Mose Masoe, James Roby, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Sia Soliola, Jon Wilkin, Mark Flanagan, Alex Walmsley, Mark Percival, Joe Greenwood, Anthony Walker, Luke Thompson, Carl Forster, Andre Savelio
