WE NEED SOME STAYING POWER
Fages wary of Saints slip-up
THEO FAGES has warned St Helens to learn from Castleford’s mistakes.
Saints are running amok in Super League, just like the Tigers did last season.
But Daryl Powell’s men ended up with only the League Leaders’ Shield to show for their amazing efforts.
Half-back Fages says it’s vital that red-hot Saints don’t fall into a similar trap.
He said: “It doesn’t mean much being good now if we’re not there at the end of the season.
“There is a long way to go and anything can happen, so we’ll see in a couple of months where we are.”
But Frenchman Fages is happy that Saints have proved their success doesn’t rest on superstar Ben Barba.
The full-back, who is the early favourite to be named Man of Steel, missed the last game against Hull with illness.
But Saints still dominated, winning 26-12 to protect their four-point lead at the top.
Fages added: “Benny was a big miss because he has got that magic but we showed we can still play.
“This team is not just about one player. Everyone is confident and hopefully we can carry that on all season.”
Fages is in a fourway scrap for the starting half-back roles – a fight that could see Matty Smith leave the club on loan, as revealed by Starsport on Monday. But Fages, who has started the last two games at six after eight games on the bench, insists he’s happy to fight for his spot. “It is a little bit disappointing if you are not starting but the competition is good for the team,” he said. “As long as I can help the team I am happy.” WIDNES youngster Keanan Brand will undergo surgery today after suffering a double leg break just six minutes into his Super League debut at the weekend. Coach Denis Betts said: “It’s quite a bad break. “You feel for the kid, six minutes into his debut. It was just a freak accident.”