St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham admits finishing above Catalans at the end of the regular season this weekend – and thus avoid a lengthy away trip to Perpignan – would be a big boost heading into the upcoming Super 8s.
From as far as six points adrift earlier in the year, the Saints have put a run together of four straight wins to move level on points with the Dragons and the top four: and they could overtake them this weekend should they beat Wigan on Friday night.
And Cunningham admits his side are fighting hard to ensure they battle into the four ahead of the Super 8s: which would guarantee an extra home game in the next phase of the season.
“I suppose everyone is fighting not to go to Catalans,” Cunningham told the club’s official website. “We would love to finish fourth at the end of the regular season but it is a case of staying as close as we can to the top four. We know what we have to do and we are working hard to get there.”
Cunningham admits he’s pleased with how well his side are playing at the moment – but insists there is still more to come from a side who have been plagued with inconsistency for the most part of the season.
“I told the players that when you come through a bumpy period wins bring relief and from there comes self-belief. We are in a good place but could we be better? Of course we could and we are working hard to get there. We are working to improve for Friday and for the weeks after that.
“We will have a crack at all the teams above us in the Super 8s. There will be plenty of points won and lost for all teams as there are too many good sides in this competition.
“The more form we carry into the back end of the year the better it will be.”
