St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham has revealed he made one late ploy to prevent one of the club’s finest players in recent years from retiring.
Manly captain and former Saints great Jamie Lyon announced last week he would be calling time on his career at the end of the current season – but not before Cunningham tried to lure his team-mate over for one last stint in the red and white of St Helens.
He told the St Helens Star that he did everything except plead with Lyon, who is a former Man of Steel and was named in the Super League Dream Team on both the years he played in England.
“I tried my best to persuade him, but he has kids in school over there. The only thing I didn’t do was get on my hands and knees to beg him,” he said.
“He is just one of the great Saints players of all time and a champion guy .
“If you were fortunate enough to come across him you would realise what a special guy he is.
“We know he can play rugby and he was one of best centres I have played with, but among his qualities are how personable he was.