DEFEAT FEELS LIKE A WAKE

WAKEFIELD head coach Chris Chester was counting the cost of a defeat that cost them a place in the top four and “hurt like hell.”

Victory would have earned Trinity their highest regular season finish in 49 years and an extra money-spinning home game in next month’s Super 8s.

Even defeat by a margin of 14 points or less would have secured a top-four placing.

Instead, the Belle Vue outfit dropped from potential third to fifth as super Saints’ latest win marked them out as potential Grand Final contenders. That looked unlikely before Aussie Justin Holbrook replaced Keiron Cunningham as head coach 10 games ago.

But the 2014 Old Trafford winners are now a different prospect as Wakey discovered.

“If someone said we would finish fifth I would have snapped their hands off,” said Chester.

“But it hurts like hell because we have not only thrown away third place but fourth as well.

“We have only got three home games now but we have been written off all season and we will use that as motivation.”

An extra Super 8s home game would have been worth around £70,000 to £80,000, according to chairman Michael Carter

In contrast, Saints have won seven of their last 10 and while finishing only sixth are within striking distance of the top four.

“We have put ourselves in the mix which is exciting,” said Holbrook. “We are heading in the right direction and we are as good as any team.

“It was a really good performance and we knew we needed it. It was a big game for both teams and we really turned up.”

Mark Percival kicked eight goals from eight attempts and Saints scored six tries through Danny Richardson, James Roby, Tommy Makinson, Regan Grace, Louie McCarthyScarsbrook and Zeb Taia.