BARBA CUTS IT
Big Ben’s hat-trick has coach Holbrook longing to turn back clock
ST HELENS coach Justin Holbrook wishes he could play alongside Ben Barba after the full-back’s latest showstopper.
Aussie Barba scored a magical hat-trick of tries and created two others as Saints kept alive their hopes of a first Wembley trip in a decade.
It was Barba’s latest virtuoso display in a sparkling season – but his coach says his contribution extends far beyond individual brilliance. Holbrook said: “I’d love to be playing with him. The great players make those around them play better.
“He’s a great influence on our team, not just individually but he’s a very intelligent guy with his rugby league.”
Almost a year ago Holbrook was waiting for his visa from Australia as the Tigers dismantled Saints 53-10 in the same round of the competition.
He added: “Right from the start I thought the boys were trying too hard. Cas were on fire this time last year. We came here to try to outplay them and it didn’t work out.
“That was hard to watch because I’d have loved to see a win and the boys stay alive in the competition.
“But I was still looking forward to coming over.” Holbrook and Barba’s influence on St Helens is considerable, and in their current form it will take a good side to stop them.
The full-back was largely responsible for their 12-0 half-time lead, first releasing winger Regan Grace for a length-of-the-field try from a Tigers kick, then repeating the trick himself.
Cas were missing a host of first-choice players and rarely let their efforts drop.
But they simply couldn’t contain Barba, who went over for a second within three minutes of the restart.
Jake Trueman, Greg Minikin and Mike Mcmeeken scored secondhalf tries for Tigers, but they were never within 12 points of Saints after the break.
Barba sent Ryan Morgan over for the visitors’ fourth try and danced past a host of defenders for his superb hat-trick effort, with the impressive Danny Richardson scoring his own solo effort in between.
Cas coach Daryl Powell said: “Our ability to put sustained pressure on St Helens was non-existent.”
Also yesterday: Catalans 56-10 Whitehaven