Taia vows to lift the pressure on Keiron
ZEB TAIA is confident that St Helens can end their horrific run of form as they head to his former club Catalans this evening.
Saints coach Keiron Cunningham, immortalised in a bronze statue outside the club’s stadium for his playing exploits, has come under heavy fire after three straight defeats.
Another loss would heap on more pressure, but Taia is adamant that Saints can stop the rot in the south of France.
Taia, 32, was a firm favourite at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, where he spent three seasons before going home to Australia to join Gold Coast Titans last year.
Now back in the Super League after joining St Helens, the skilful second rower has made two appearances for Cunningham’s side, against Wakefield and Hull. Saints lost them both and Taia admits he is still acclimatising to life at his new club.
The Australia-born forward, recently joined in England by his wife and two daughters, said: “It was good to get some miles in my legs against Wakefield. It was my first game of the season, having not played any trial games at Gold Coast.
“Getting the full 80 minutes in at Hull last week was better and I’m just building week by week now. I will get into the swing of things over the next couple of weeks.
“I did three years in the Super League with Catalans and wanted to challenge myself to go back to the NRL. I did that and I played every game, so it was never part of the plan to come back to the Super League, but when that opportunity opens up you have to take it.”
Saints will fly in and out of Perpignan today on a chartered flight and Taia can be assured of a warm welcome.
He added: “It will be weird playing against my old team-mates but I will treat it as any other game. I am looking forward to the challenge, but flying there and back in one day is new to me.”
Saints have selected the same 19-man squad that travelled to Hull last week after prop Alex Walmsley escaped a ban following a charge of using his knees in a tackle against the Airlie Birds.