2009 St Helens RLFC season
| 2009 St Helens RLFC season | ||||
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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
[edit]Saints come back from a 14-nil deficit early in the second half to beat Warrington Wolves 26-14.[1]
Saints turn over the much improved from last season Huddersfield Giants 23-6.[2]
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]
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]
Saints brush aside the Salford City Reds by 38 points to 12.[5]
Saints edge a heated epic with Leeds Rhinos - winning 26-18 at Knowsley Road.[6]
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]
Saints scrape past a fired up Wigan Warriors outfit, winning 19-12 after being 6-nil and 12-6 down.[8]
Saints bounce Hull F.C. in the second game of the Easter period by 44-22.[9]
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]
Saints suffer only their second defeat of the season as Bradford come back to win 34-30.[11]
Saints produce arguably their worst display of the campaign, losing 38-18 to arch rivals Wigan at the Magic Weekend.[12]
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]
Saints survive a second-half rally from Harlequins RL to win 22-12.[14]
Saints ease past the challenge of Hull FC, winning 30-6.[15]
Saints thrash Castleford for a second time this season in a 50 points to 10 success.[16]
Saints set a new record of 16 consecutive away wins in Super League after cantering to a 44-18 success over Bradford Bulls.[17]
Saints nil the Celtic Crusaders for a second time in the season - in a 30-0 win.[18]
Saints lose their fourth game of the season in a shock 20-10 loss to Salford.[19]
Saints beat neighbours Warrington for the second time in the league, in another fantastic game, this time by a margin of 40-26. [20]
Despite outscoring their opponents Wakefield by 5 tries to four, Saints crash to their second defeat in three games, losing 22-20.[21]
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]
Saints edge a third game of the season against Wigan, with Kyle Eastmond scoring a late try to secure a 10-6 victory.[23]
Saints lost their third game in six as they crashed to a 26-10 loss at Hull KR.[24]
Another below-par performance saw Saints scrape past a youthful Huddersfield outfit by 12 points to 10, after being 10 points down.[25]
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]
Saints are beaten by Catalans in the last game of the regular season to finish second in the league ladder behind Leeds.[27]
Saints just edge past a second epic in two weeks against Leeds in a bruising encounter - pulling through 22-18.[28]
Saints thrash Catalans Dragons 42-8 to reach the Quarter Finals.[29]
Saints trounce a spirited Gateshead Thunder side 66-6 to advance to a record ninth consecutive Semi-Final.[30]
Despite a Francis Meli hat-trick of tries, holders Saints were beaten 24-14 by Huddersfield.[31]
Saints beat Huddersfield in Week One to progress to the qualifying round in a 15-2 success.[32]
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.
Saints lose the grand final to Leeds Rhinos 18-10, this being the third consecutive Grand Final they lose to Leeds.
Upcoming Fixture(s)
[edit]Saints will round off their Super League XIV campaign against Leeds Rhinos at the 2009 Super League Grand Final.
News
[edit]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]
Current squad
[edit]
|
2009 transfers
[edit]Acquisitions
[edit]| Acquisitions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Signed from | When Signed | ||||||||
| Tony Puletua | Penrith Panthers | October 2008 | ||||||||
| Iosia Soliola | Sydney City Roosters (for 2010 season) | May 2009 | ||||||||
| Nick Fozzard | Hull Kingston Rovers (for 2010 season) | September 2009 | ||||||||
Losses
[edit]| Losses | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Signed for | When left | ||||||||
| Paul Sculthorpe | Retired | October 2008 | ||||||||
| Mike Bennett | Retired | October 2008 | ||||||||
| Willie Talau | Salford City Reds | October 2008 | ||||||||
| Dean McGilvray | Salford City Reds | October 2008 | ||||||||
| Nick Fozzard | Hull Kingston Rovers | October 2008 | ||||||||
| Steve Tyrer | Crusaders (loan) | June 2009 | ||||||||
| Matty Smith | Crusaders (loan) | October 2008 | ||||||||
| Sam Thompson | Blackbrook ARLFC | Contract terminated and player returned to amateur football | ||||||||
| Scott Moore | Huddersfield Giants (loan) | October 2008 | ||||||||
| Sean Long | Hull F.C. (for 2010 season) | June 2009 | ||||||||
| Lee Gilmour | Huddersfield Giants (for 2010 season) | July 2009 | ||||||||
Fixtures and results
[edit]| Competition | Round | Opponent | Result | Score | Home/away | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendly | N/A |  Widnes Vikings |
Loss | 26–28 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 4,128 | 27/12/2008 |
| Friendly | N/A |  Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |
Win | 26–22 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 3,549 | 18/01/2009 |
| Friendly | N/A | Widnes Vikings |
Win | 54–6 | Away | Stobart Stadium Halton | 2,562 | 01/02/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 1 |  Warrington Wolves |
Win | 26-14 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 17,009 | 13/02/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 2 |  Huddersfield Giants |
Win | 6-23 | Away | Galpharm Stadium | 11,338 | 22/02/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 3 |  Hull Kingston Rovers |
Loss | 19-20 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 11,830 | 27/02/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 4 |  Crusaders |
Win | 0-4 | Away | Brewery Field | 6,351 | 07/03/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 5 |  Salford City Reds |
Win | 38-12 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 9,723 | 13/03/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 6 |  Leeds Rhinos |
Win | 26-18 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 13,966 | 20/03/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 7 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |
Win | 18-42 | Away | Belle Vue | 6,038 | 29/03/2009 |
| Challenge Cup 2009 | 4 | Leeds Rhinos |
Win | 18-22 | Away | Headingley Stadium | 17,689 | 05/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 8 |  Wigan Warriors |
Win | 12-19 | Away | JJB Stadium | 22,232 | 09/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 9 |  Hull F.C. |
Win | 44-22 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 13,684 | 13/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 10 |  Castleford Tigers |
Win | 22-68 | Away | The Jungle | 8,003 | 19/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 11 |  Bradford Bulls |
Loss | 30-34 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 11,039 | 24/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 12 | Wigan Warriors |
Loss | 38-18 | Neutral | Murrayfield Stadium | 29,687 | 02/05/2009 |
| Challenge Cup 2009 | 5 |  Catalans Dragons |
Win | 42-8 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 7,176 | 10/05/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 13 | Catalans Dragons |
Win | 28-32 | Away | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 9,065 | 16/05/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 14 |  Harlequins RL |
Win | 22-12 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 9,359 | 22/05/2009 |
| Challenge Cup 2009 | QF |  Gateshead Thunder |
Win | 6-66 | Away | Gateshead International Stadium | 4,325 | 30/05/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 15 | Hull FC |
Win | 6-30 | Away | KC Stadium | 12,009 | 05/06/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 16 | Castleford Tigers |
Win | 50-10 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 9,680 | 12/06/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 17 | Bradford Bulls |
Win | 18-44 | Away | Grattan Stadium | 10,599 | 21/06/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 18 | Celtic Crusaders |
Win | 30-0 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,684 | 26/06/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 19 | Salford City Reds |
Loss | 20-10 | Away | The Willows | 4,808 | 03/07/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 20 | Warrington Wolves |
Win | 26-40 | Away | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 12,075 | 11/07/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 21 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |
Loss | 20-22 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,651 | 17/07/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 22 | Harlequins RL |
Win | 24-42 | Away | Twickenham Stoop Stadium | 4,258 | 25/07/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 23 | Wigan Warriors |
Win | 10-6 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 15,563 | 31/07/2009 |
| Challenge Cup 2009 | SF | Huddersfield Giants |
Loss | 14-24 | Neutral | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 10,638 | 09/08/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 24 | Hull Kingston Rovers |
Loss | 26-10 | Away | New Craven Park | 8,976 | 16/08/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 25 | Huddersfield Giants |
Win | 12-10 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,708 | 21/08/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 26 | Leeds Rhinos |
Loss | 18-10 | Away | Headingley Carnegie | 19,997 | 04/09/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 27 | Catalans Dragons |
Loss | 12-24 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,268 | 11/09/2009 |
| Super League XIV Play-offs | Qualifier | Huddersfield Giants |
Win | 15-2 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 6,157 | 19/09/2009 |
| Super League XIV Play-offs | Semi-final | Wigan Warriors |
Win | 14-10 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 13,087 | 10/10/2009 |
| Super League Grand Final | Final | Leeds Rhinos |
Loss | 18-10 | Neutral | Old Trafford | 63,259 | 17/10/2009 |
League table
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds Rhinos (L, C)
|
27 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 805 | 453 | +352 | 42 | Play-offs |
| 2 |  St Helens
|
27 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 733 | 466 | +267 | 38 | |
| 3 | Huddersfield Giants
|
27 | 18 | 0 | 9 | 690 | 416 | +274 | 36 | |
| 4 | Hull Kingston Rovers
|
27 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 650 | 516 | +134 | 35 | |
| 5 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
|
27 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 685 | 609 | +76 | 32 | |
| 6 | Wigan Warriors
|
27 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 659 | 551 | +108 | 30 | |
| 7 | Castleford Tigers
|
27 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 645 | 702 | −57 | 28 | |
| 8 | Catalans Dragons
|
27 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 613 | 660 | −47 | 26 | |
| 9 | Bradford Bulls
|
27 | 12 | 1 | 14 | 653 | 668 | −15 | 25 | |
| 10 | Warrington Wolves
|
27 | 12 | 0 | 15 | 649 | 705 | −56 | 24 | |
| 11 | Harlequins
|
27 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 591 | 691 | −100 | 22 | |
| 12 | Hull F.C.
|
27 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 502 | 623 | −121 | 20 | |
| 13 | Salford City Reds
|
27 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 456 | 754 | −298 | 14 | |
| 14 | Celtic Crusaders
|
27 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 357 | 874 | −517 | 6 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners
2009 Squad
[edit]As of 29 July 2009:
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
References
[edit]- ^ "St Helens vs. Warrington match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Huddersfield match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Hull KR match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Celtic match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Salford match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Leeds match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wakefield match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wigan match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Hull match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Castleford match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Bradford match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wigan match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Catalans match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Harlequins match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Hull match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Castleford match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Bradford match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Celtic match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-26. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Salford match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Warrington match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-11. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wakefield match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-11. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Harlequins match report 2". engagesuperleague.co.uk. 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wigan match report 3". superleague.co.uk. 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Hull KR match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Huddersfield match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Leeds match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Catalans match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Leeds CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Catalans CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Gateshead CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Huddersfield CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-08-09. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Huddersfield P-O match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Soliola a Saint". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Hull Snare Long". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Gilmour to join Giants". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ "Smith Switches to Reds". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ^ "Cayless quits Saints". skysports.com. 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
- ^ "Fozzard returns to Saints". superleague.com. 2009-09-20. Archived from the original on 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2009-09-20.