WELSBY: WE’VE RIGHT STUFF TO GO 5 IN A ROW

JACK WELSBY told those who had doubted St Helens to “stuff” themselves and warned the history-makers are immediately aiming for a fifth straight Super League title.

The England international created two tries with his stellar kicking in the 24-12 victory over Leeds that delivered a recordbreaking fourth consecutive Grand Final win for the League Leaders, who beat Salford in the semi-finals. Rhinos had finished fifth but gathered impressive pace late in the campaign to have some thinking they may down the champions.

But Welsby insisted: “I reckon Salford had more momentum and we’ve quietly gone about our business. Obviously we’ve had a couple of defeats here and there, which is unusual for us.

“But if we’re worrying about a few defeats and saying Saints aren’t the same then write us off at your peril. It suited us. We’ve had our backs up against the wall and gone, ‘Stuff you, we’ll show you what sort of team we are’.

“We’ve done that again – we’ve won four in a row and there’s a reason for that. We’re a pretty special bunch and it’s hard to argue with us now. We’re one of the best, if not the best.”

And Super League’s Young Player of the Year (top) believes “100 percent” Saints can get even better.

“Will Hopoate played 40-odd minutes with a hamstring injury,” said the 21-year-old after the club’s record-breaking ninth Grand Final win. “Jon Bennison’s come in for his first season, scored a try and been pivotal in what we’ve done.

“There’s a lot of improvements in us. I don’t understand why we couldn’t do another. We’ve that mentality within our group: if we can do four, why can’t we do five?”

PART-TIMERS Batley caused a shock at big-spending Featherstone to move within just 80 minutes of Super League.

Craig Lingard’s side, who finished fifth, won their Championship semi-final 32-28 against opponents who boasted ex-NRL stars such as Joey Leilua and Ryley Jacks.

Unfashionable Batley head to Championship leaders Leigh Centurions – who thrashed York 70-10 – in Sunday’s Million Pound Game for a place in the top-flight.