HULL IN A HOL-IDAZE Justin is Saints’ miracle man

The new Saints gaffer only had one training session with the squad after arriving on Thursday but clearly worked miracles.

Saints looked a world away from the side that was embarrassingly thrashed 53-10 by Castleford in the Challenge Cup last week.

They also showed far more desire and passion than they had earlier in the season, resulting in Keiron Cunningham getting sacked.

Holbrook said: “It is a fantastic result and I am very happy. But I only had one day with them so I cannot take much credit.”

The former Sydney Roosters assistant coach said he concentrated on building up the players’ confidence in his single session.

He said: “I just wanted to take the pressure off them. They were hurting from last week and I wanted them to relax and enjoy playing again.”

Saints definitely did that, running riot against a Hull side who would have gone top if they had won. Shell-shocked Hull coach Lee Radford said: “It’s an unwritten rule in sport that when a new coach comes in you get a good performance.

“You could see it in their intent early on. It was a well-deserved result. It is the first time this year we have collapsed.

“It was set-to-set early on but we threw jabs and they threw bombs and when you get hit by a bomb you go to the canvas.”

Prop Alex Walmsley and winger Regan Grace each grabbed two in the eight-try haul.

But the pick of the lot – and a contender for try of the season – came from full-back Tommy Makinson.

He collected a Hull kick in front of his own sticks and then brushed off three tacklers for a superb length-of-the-field touchdown.

Hull came into the game on the back of a five-game winning streak but were outfought and outmuscled all game long.

In the second half Saints turned the screw relentlessly. Walmsley’s second try was followed by one from Louie McCarthyScarsbrook, before Makinson’s fireworks and Grace’s late double.

Despite such a stunning start, Holbrook is already planning to add to his squad.

Former NRL superstar Ben Barba looks to be on his way to St Helens. The full back had a brief spell in rugby union at Toulon and has a 12-week drugs ban hanging over him.

But new Saints coach Holbrook admits he has spoken to Barba, who is in Newcastle to watch Magic Weekend. He is bound to have

lived what he saw here!