Rooney puts the boot into Saints

Cat's got the cream: Matt Blaymire seals victory for the Wildcats
14 April 2012

Wakefield 29 St Helens 22

Daniel Anderson admitted St Helens had been "steam-rollered" after another humbling Super League defeat left the champions in disarray five days before their World Club Challenge clash with Brisbane Broncos.

Anderson could at least point to blizzard conditions as a factor in Harlequins' shock victory at Knowsley Road nine days earlier. Yesterday, the stunned coach had no excuses after his team froze in the face of a second-half comeback from Jamie Rooney-inspired Wakefield.

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The conditions were perfect for running rugby, but a catalogue of errors condemned Saints to another puzzling defeat.

"For the first time, our desire to win the game almost evaporated when Wakefield got on a roll," said Anderson. "In the second half we didn't measure up to the intensity of their fightback. I don't like making excuses for what was the poorest performance — certainly the poorest half — since I've been here. We got steamrollered."

When it was suggested that his players simply gave up during the second half, he replied: "I don't think so, but the brutality of this league is that if you only play for 50 minutes you're going to get beaten."

Anderson now faces the difficult task of rallying Saints for Friday's showdown with Brisbane at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, but promised to take action.

He said: "They're all professionals here and they've got to have a level of pride in their performance.

"There's a significant number in our dressing room who probably don't have a level of pride in their performance today. I need to work harder with them and I will."

A side that suffered just four defeats on their way to winning all three major trophies last season with something to spare have now lost two in a row — first to unfancied Quins and now Wakefield, who are tipped for another desperate relegation battle.

There was no sign of the collapse to come when Anderson's men coasted to an 18-6 half-time lead.

Tries from Mike Bennett, James Graham and Leon Pryce — all converted by Sean Long — put the visitors firmly in command despite Brett Ferres' solitary touchdown for Wakefield.

But with Rooney pulling the strings from stand off, Wakefield were a team transformed after the re-start and over-ran Saints with four tries. Ned Catic was first to bustle over the line, followed by Ryan Atkins, Rooney and Matt Blaymire, to the delight of the Belle Vue crowd.

Aside from his sparkling try, Rooney also claimed a dropgoal and four goals to finish with 13 points and ensure that Ade Gardner's last minute try was academic.

Having seen his side beaten at Hull KR in their opening game, Wakefield coach John Kear was ecstatic but denied that any words of wisdom had inspired his players to victory.

"All we said at half-time was: 'Stick with it, keep the faith'," said Kear.

"It was more a case of all the hard graft they put in during the off-season and last week as well. I'm delighted with the second half performance."

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