2009 St Helens RLFC season

St. Helens entered their 137th year in 2009, and were in contention for of rugby league's Super League and Carnegie Challenge Cup competitions.

2009 season

Super League XIV

Round 1

Saints come back from a 14-nil deficit early in the second half to beat Warrington Wolves 26-14.[1]

Matt Gidley scored twice against Warrington.

Round 2

Saints turn over the much improved from last season Huddersfield Giants 23-6.[2]

Round 3

Hull Kingston Rovers inflict Saints' first defeat of the season, with Michael Dobson scoring a late penalty goal to give the Robins a 20-19 win.[3]

Round 4

Saints scrape past newly promoted Crusaders in the lowest scoring game in the Super League; Tom Armstrong scoring the only try in a 4-nil win.[4]

Round 5

Saints brush aside the Salford City Reds by 38 points to 12.[5]

Round 6

Saints edge a heated epic with Leeds Rhinos - winning 26-18 at Knowsley Road.[6]

Chris Flannery was man-of-the-match against Leeds.

Round 7

Saints hammer Wakefield Trinity Wildcats by 42-18. The Wildcats are in mourning for reserve player Leon Walker, who died in a reserve game.[7]

Round 8

Saints scrape past a fired up Wigan Warriors outfit, winning 19-12 after being 6-nil and 12-6 down.[8]

Round 9

Saints bounce Hull F.C. in the second game of the Easter period by 44-22.[9]

Round 10

Saints become the first team in Super League XIV to surpass 60 points, winning 68-22 at Castleford. Tony Puletua scores 4 tries but the game is halted for 30 minutes as Joe Westerman suffers a serious head injury.[10]

Round 11

Saints suffer only their second defeat of the season as Bradford come back to win 34-30.[11]

Round 12

Saints produce arguably their worst display of the campaign, losing 38-18 to arch rivals Wigan at the Magic Weekend.[12]

Round 13

Saints defeat Catalans Dragons for the second time in a week, by coming back from 22-10 down to win 32-28 to move them back to the top of the table.[13]

Round 14

Saints survive a second-half rally from Harlequins RL to win 22-12.[14]

Round 15

Saints ease past the challenge of Hull FC, winning 30-6.[15]

Round 16

Saints thrash Castleford for a second time this season in a 50 points to 10 success.[16]

Round 17

Saints set a new record of 16 consecutive away wins in Super League after cantering to a 44-18 success over Bradford Bulls.[17]

Round 18

Saints nil the Celtic Crusaders for a second time in the season - in a 30-0 win.[18]

Round 19

Saints lose their fourth game of the season in a shock 20-10 loss to Salford.[19]

Round 20

Saints beat neighbours Warrington for the second time in the league, in another fantastic game, this time by a margin of 40-26. [20]

Round 21

Despite outscoring their opponents Wakefield by 5 tries to four, Saints crash to their second defeat in three games, losing 22-20.[21]

Round 22

Saints bounce back from two defeats in three games with a convincing 44-24 win at Harlequins to take them back to two points clear at the top of the table.[22]

Round 23

Saints edge a third game of the season against Wigan, with Kyle Eastmond scoring a late try to secure a 10-6 victory.[23]

Round 24

Saints lost their third game in six as they crashed to a 26-10 loss at Hull KR.[24]

Round 25

Another below-par performance saw Saints scrape past a youthful Huddersfield outfit by 12 points to 10, after being 10 points down.[25]

Round 26

In a much improved performance, Saints are edged out by bitter rivals Leeds 18-10 in a third superb encounter of the season to all but end their hopes of a fifth consecutive League Leader's Shield.[26]

Round 27

Saints are beaten by Catalans in the last game of the regular season to finish second in the league ladder behind Leeds.[27]

Challenge Cup 2009

Round 4

Saints just edge past a second epic in two weeks against Leeds in a bruising encounter - pulling through 22-18.[28]

Round 5

Saints thrash Catalans Dragons 42-8 to reach the Quarter Finals.[29]

Quarter-Finals

Saints trounce a spirited Gateshead Thunder side 66-6 to advance to a record ninth consecutive Semi-Final.[30]

Semi-Finals

Despite a Francis Meli hat-trick of tries, holders Saints were beaten 24-14 by Huddersfield.[31]

Play-Off Series

Week 1

Saints beat Huddersfield in Week One to progress to the qualifying round in a 15-2 success.[32]

Week 3

Saints reached a fourth consecutive Super League Grand Final after beating Wigan in a thrilling 14-10 win.[33] They will take on Leeds for a third consecutive time at Old Trafford.

Super League Grand Final

Saints lose the grand final to Leeds Rhinos 18-10, this being the third consecutive Grand Final they lose to Leeds.

Upcoming Fixture(s)

Saints will round off their Super League XIV campaign against Leeds Rhinos at the 2009 Super League Grand Final.

News

It has been announced that, for the 2010 Super League Season, Saints have signed New Zealand World Cup winning centre Iosia Soliola from the Sydney City Roosters on a three-year deal.[34] Additionally, Scrum-Half Sean Long will be leaving Knowsley Road after a 12-year stint. He is joining Hull F.C. on a two-year contract.[35] Lee Gilmour is also on his way out of St Helens. The second-row has agreed a two year deal with Huddersfield Giants for the 2010 season.[36] Young half-back Matty Smith will join Salford City Reds for the 2010 season in a loan agreement.[37] Prop-forward Jason Cayless will be leaving Saints too after 4 seasons with the club owing to a shoulder injury. He will return to Australia.[38] Hull Kingston Rovers prop Nick Fozzard will re-join Saints after being released from the final year of his Rovers contract.[39]

Iosia Soliola will be on board at the GPW next season.

Current squad
No. Position Player

2009 Transfers

Acquisitions
Acquisitions
PlayerSigned fromWhen Signed
Tony PuletuaPenrith PanthersOctober 2008
Iosia SoliolaSydney City Roosters (for 2010 season)May 2009
Nick FozzardHull Kingston Rovers (for 2010 season)September 2009

Losses
Losses
PlayerSigned forWhen left
Paul SculthorpeRetiredOctober 2008
Mike BennettRetiredOctober 2008
Willie TalauSalford City RedsOctober 2008
Dean McGilvraySalford City RedsOctober 2008
Nick FozzardHull Kingston RoversOctober 2008
Steve TyrerCrusaders (loan)June 2009
Matty SmithCrusaders (loan)October 2008
Sam ThompsonBlackbrook ARLFCContract terminated and player returned to amateur football
Scott MooreHuddersfield Giants (loan)October 2008
Sean LongHull F.C. (for 2010 season)June 2009
Lee GilmourHuddersfield Giants (for 2010 season)July 2009
Steve Tyrer was loaned to Crusaders for the 2009 season.

Fixtures and results
CompetitionRoundOpponentResultScoreHome/AwayVenueAttendanceDate
FriendlyN/A Widnes VikingsLoss26–28HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium4,12827/12/2008
FriendlyN/A Wakefield Trinity WildcatsWin26–22HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium3,54918/01/2009
FriendlyN/A Widnes VikingsWin54–6AwayStobart Stadium Halton2,56201/02/2009
Super League XIV1 Warrington WolvesWin26-14HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium17,00913/02/2009
Super League XIV2 Huddersfield GiantsWin6-23AwayGalpharm Stadium11,33822/02/2009
Super League XIV3 Hull Kingston RoversLoss19-20HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium11,83027/02/2009
Super League XIV4 CrusadersWin0-4AwayBrewery Field6,35107/03/2009
Super League XIV5 Salford City RedsWin38-12HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium9,72313/03/2009
Super League XIV6 Leeds RhinosWin26-18HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium13,96620/03/2009
Super League XIV7 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsWin18-42AwayBelle Vue6,03829/03/2009
Challenge Cup 20094 Leeds RhinosWin18-22AwayHeadingley Stadium17,68905/04/2009
Super League XIV8 Wigan WarriorsWin12-19AwayJJB Stadium22,23209/04/2009
Super League XIV9 Hull F.C.Win44-22HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium13,68413/04/2009
Super League XIV10 Castleford TigersWin22-68AwayThe Jungle8,00319/04/2009
Super League XIV11 Bradford BullsLoss30-34HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium11,03924/04/2009
Super League XIV12 Wigan WarriorsLoss38-18NeutralMurrayfield Stadium29,68702/05/2009
Challenge Cup 20095 Catalans DragonsWin42-8HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium7,17610/05/2009
Super League XIV13 Catalans DragonsWin28-32AwayStade Gilbert Brutus9,06516/05/2009
Super League XIV14 Harlequins RLWin22-12HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium9,35922/05/2009
Challenge Cup 2009QF Gateshead ThunderWin6-66AwayGateshead International Stadium4,32530/05/2009
Super League XIV15 Hull FCWin6-30AwayKC Stadium12,00905/06/2009
Super League XIV16 Castleford TigersWin50-10HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium9,68012/06/2009
Super League XIV17 Bradford BullsWin18-44AwayGrattan Stadium10,59921/06/2009
Super League XIV18 Celtic CrusadersWin30-0HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium8,68426/06/2009
Super League XIV19 Salford City RedsLoss20-10AwayThe Willows4,80803/07/2009
Super League XIV20 Warrington WolvesWin26-40AwayHalliwell Jones Stadium12,07511/07/2009
Super League XIV21 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsLoss20-22HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium8,65117/07/2009
Super League XIV22 Harlequins RLWin24-42AwayTwickenham Stoop Stadium4,25825/07/2009
Super League XIV23 Wigan WarriorsWin10-6HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium15,56331/07/2009
Challenge Cup 2009SF Huddersfield GiantsLoss14-24NeutralHalliwell Jones Stadium10,63809/08/2009
Super League XIV24 Hull Kingston RoversLoss26-10AwayNew Craven Park8,97616/08/2009
Super League XIV25 Huddersfield GiantsWin12-10HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium8,70821/08/2009
Super League XIV26 Leeds RhinosLoss18-10AwayHeadingley Carnegie19,99704/09/2009
Super League XIV27 Catalans DragonsLoss12-24HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium8,26811/09/2009
Super League XIV Play-offsQualifier Huddersfield GiantsWin15-2HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium6,15719/09/2009
Super League XIV Play-offsSemi-final Wigan WarriorsWin14-10HomeGPW Recruitment Stadium13,08710/10/2009
Super League Grand FinalFinal Leeds RhinosLoss18-10NeutralOld Trafford63,25917/10/2009

League table
Pos. Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Leeds Rhinos 272106805453+35242
2 St. Helens 271908733466+26738
3 Huddersfield Giants 271809690416+27436
4 Hull KR 271719650516+13435
5 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 2716011685609+7632
6 Wigan Warriors 2715012659551+10830
7 Castleford Tigers 2714013645702–5728
8 Catalans Dragons 2713014613660–4726
9 Bradford Bulls 2712114653668–1525
10 Warrington Wolves 2712015649705–5624
11 Harlequins RL 2711016591691–10022
12 Hull FC 2710017502623–12120
13 Salford City Reds 277020456754–29814
14 Celtic Crusaders 273024357874–5176
  Teams qualifying for the Play-offs

Source: superleague.co.uk.
Classification: 1st on competition points; 2nd on match points difference.
Competition points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.

2009 Squad

As of 29 July 2009:

Number Nationality Player Name Position Weight (kg) Height (m) D.O.B. Previous Club
1 Paul Wellens (VC) FB 96 1.85 27/02/80 St Helens Academy
2 Ade Gardner W 94 1.88 26/06/83 Barrow Border Raiders
3 Matthew Gidley C 94 1.86 01/07/77 Newcastle Knights
4 C
5 1 Francis Meli W 100 1.88 27/04/79 New Zealand Warriors
6 2 Leon Pryce SO 98 1.91 09/10/81 Bradford Bulls
7 Sean Long (VC) SH 85 1.75 24/09/76 Widnes Vikings
8 Jason Cayless PR 106 1.93 15/01/80 Sydney Roosters
9 Keiron Cunningham (C) HK 102 1.75 28/10/76 St Helens Academy
10 James Graham PR 106 1.88 10/09/85 St Helens Academy
11 Lee Gilmour SR 99 1.88 13/03/78 Bradford Bulls
12 Jon Wilkin SR 97 1.85 01/11/83 Hull Kingston Rovers
13 Chris Flannery LF 100 1.86 05/06/80 Sydney Roosters
14 James Roby HK 87 1.78 22/11/85 St Helens Academy
15 Bryn Hargreaves PR 103 1.83 14/11/85 Wigan Warriors
16 1 Tony Puletua SR 110 1.92 25/06/78 Penrith Panthers
17 Paul Clough SR 98 1.83 27/09/87 St Helens Academy
18 Kyle Eastmond SH 75 1.67 17/07/89 St Helens Academy
19 Chris Dean C 86 1.80 17/01/88 St Helens Academy
20 Gareth Frodsham PR 100 1.89 18/12/89 St Helens Academy
21 Gary Wheeler SO 87 1.79 30/09/89 St Helens Academy
22 Sean Magenniss SR 91 1.82 02/12/89 St Helens Academy
23 3 Maurie Fa'asavalu PR 105 1.91 12/01/80 Samoan Rugby Union
24 Andrew Dixon LF 94 1.83 28/02/90 St Helens Academy
25 Jamie Foster C 85 1.87 27/07/90 St Helens Academy
26 Andy Yates PR 98 1.86 23/02/90 St Helens Academy
27 Jamie Ellis SH 85 1.79 04/10/89 St Helens Academy
28 Matty Ashurst SR 90 1.86 01/11/89 St Helens Academy
29 Tom Armstrong W 92 1.90 12/09/89 St Helens Academy
30 Jonny Lomax FB 82 1.77 04/09/90 St Helens Academy
31 Jacob Emmitt PR 102 1.86 04/10/88 St Helens Academy
32 Paul Johnson C 88 1.87 13/03/88 St Helens Academy

1 - Meli and Puletua won caps for New Zealand before switching to Samoa

2 - Pryce is of Jamaican origin

3 - Fa'asavalu switched his allegiance to England under the residency rule

gollark: You realise that 95% support is entirely consistent with 5% non-support?
gollark: What?
gollark: Oh, you mean human activity, not literal humans.
gollark: I think we actually tested that one random biology lesson with some limewater.
gollark: > rare

References
  1. "St Helens vs. Warrington match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  2. "St Helens vs. Huddersfield match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  3. "St Helens vs. Hull KR match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  4. "St Helens vs. Celtic match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  5. "St Helens vs. Salford match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  6. "St Helens vs. Leeds match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  7. "St Helens vs. Wakefield match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  8. "St Helens vs. Wigan match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  9. "St Helens vs. Hull match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  10. "St Helens vs. Castleford match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  11. "St Helens vs. Bradford match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  12. "St Helens vs. Wigan match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  13. "St Helens vs. Catalans match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  14. "St Helens vs. Harlequins match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  15. "St Helens vs. Hull match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  16. "St Helens vs. Castleford match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  17. "St Helens vs. Bradford match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  18. "St Helens vs. Celtic match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-26. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  19. "St Helens vs. Salford match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  20. "St Helens vs. Warrington match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-11. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
  21. "St Helens vs. Wakefield match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-11. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
  22. "St Helens vs. Harlequins match report 2". engagesuperleague.co.uk. 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
  23. "St Helens vs. Wigan match report 3". superleague.co.uk. 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  24. "St Helens vs. Hull KR match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  25. "St Helens vs. Huddersfield match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  26. "St Helens vs. Leeds match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  27. "St Helens vs. Catalans match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  28. "St Helens vs. Leeds CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  29. "St Helens vs. Catalans CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  30. "St Helens vs. Gateshead CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  31. "St Helens vs. Huddersfield CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-08-09. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  32. "St Helens vs. Huddersfield P-O match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  33. "St Helens vs. Wigan P-O match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-10-03. Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  34. "Soliola a Saint". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  35. "Hull Snare Long". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  36. "Gilmour to join Giants". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  37. "Smith Switches to Reds". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  38. "Cayless quits Saints". skysports.com. 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  39. "Fozzard returns to Saints". superleague.com. 2009-09-20. Archived from the original on 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
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