I can’t say I’m Keane on Saints
BUT WILKIN KNOWS HIS EX-CLUB ARE TOO GOOD
JON WILKIN is dying to tap into Roy Keane’s aggression and lay into his old team St Helens.
But Sky Sports’ new frontman fears he will be accused of bias instead – because the champions are simply too good. Wilkin, who played more than 400 games in 15 years with Saints, said: “They are the best, without a doubt.
“I’ve got to be honest, but that makes it awkward for me because people will lazily assume I am being biased.
“I’d like to be more like Roy Keane, who rips into Man United. I’d like to rip into Saints but they are not giving me anything.They are so clinical.”
On Thursday, Saints launch their bid for a record fourth successive Super League title against last year’s Grand Finalists Catalans. Wilkin said: “When you are at the top there is a pressure to maintain that but they can handle it. I think they will be better than ever this year.”
Despite his praise for the club, Wilkin believes there is one player who is lucky to be in the team at all. Tongan international centre Konrad
Hurrell was a cult hero with fans during his three years at Leeds. But Wilkin was unimpressed with both his performances and his attitude at the Rhinos.
He said: “I thought he was a shambles at Leeds. He was their marquee player but came to them out of shape and did not improve, had injuries and under performed.
“I know the money he’s now getting is peanuts compared to what he was on at Leeds so it’s a shrewd signing by Saints in that sense.
“But this is the last chance for him to do something. He is a lucky lad to walk into a team like Saints.”
Wilkin believes Catalans, Wigan and Leeds all pose threats to Saints’ three-year stranglehold on the league. But it is the changes at Warrington, under new coach Daryl Powell, that he is most excited about.
He added: “Daryl Powell might be the smartest recruit. He got every extra ounce of value out of a Castleford team with very little resources.
“Now he’s got a Warrington team that has all the resources but has been lacking that ruthless streak and cohesion.”