Saints hope to lift trophy for Holbrook

ENGLAND centre Mark Percival says St Helens are motivated to ensure coach Justin Holbrook does not leave the club without a major trophy.

The popular Australian, who is returning to the NRL at the end of the year to coach Gold Coast Titans, has guided Saints to the League Leaders’ Shield in each of his two full seasons in Super League.

But they fell agonisingly short in both the Challenge Cup and Super League in 2018 and have already lost to Warrington at Wembley this year, leaving the 2019 Grand Final as the last chance to present Holbrook with a farewell gift.

As they prepare to face rivals Wigan at the Totally Wicked Stadium tonight for a trip to Old Trafford, Percival says the players are determined to shake off the ‘nearly-men’ tag.

“After Wembley I was devastated for a good few weeks, but it’s sport and we weren’t good enough on the day,” he said. “I know we’ve said it over the last few years but we are building.

“You want to have something to show for all the hard work you put in and lifting that trophy for Justin would be outstanding. Hopefully we can do that.”

Holbrook, who took over in May 2017, says he’s not thinking about returning home just yet.

“I’m not counting down,” he said. “I’m just enjoying coming to training every day and really looking forward to Friday.

“And it’s great to be playing against Wigan, too, our biggest rivals. To get the opportunity to play them at home for a spot at Old Trafford is as good as it gets,” he added.