Paul Wellens singles out stand-out performer in win over Warrington: ‘He’s been the best in Super League for years’ 

St Helens boss Paul Wellens was full of praise for all his players following their 24-20 win over Warrington, but singled out one star performer.

The 43-year-old, in his debut year coaching the reigning champions, highlighted his side’s spine of Jack Welsby, Lewis Dodd and Jonny Lomax, alongside hookers James Roby and Joey Lussick following the victory.

But it was 32-year-old Lomax who received the praise in the changing rooms after the game, with Wellens delighted with the veteran’s performance in the win, overturning a 20-14 score late in the second half.

Lomax’s try on the hour mark sparked the comeback, with Dodd’s try sealing the victory that sees the side jump to third on the Super League table.

Centre Mark Percival opened the scoring, while Scotland international James Bell scored a controversial try just before the half hour mark.

Jonny Lomax hailed by St Helens boss

Wellens said post-match: “It’s very hard when you go into the dressing room after the game when all your team has worked so hard.

“I thought Lewis, Jack and Jonny, when we needed them, really stepped up and it was great to see.

“But I’ve just singled Jonny Lomax out there to everybody.

“In my opinion, Jonny has been the best player in Super League for five, six or seven years now.

“He’s got the ability and the talent and that’s all there.

“But what people might not see is, I don’t think there’s a bloke who works as hard, a bloke who tries as hard or a bloke who cares more than Jonny does.

“I just said to the team there, if his talent disappeared overnight, you’d still name him in the team next week because he has all those attributes.”

It was a thrilling encounter against Daryl Powell’s Warrington, who showed massive signs of improvements following their defeats to Castleford and Leeds respectively.

The victory marks Saints’ 11th of the season in 17 games, with six wins in their last seven league fixtures.

“I say it most weeks, if you’re a neutral tuning into that, you were absolutely loving it,” Wellens continued on the televised match.

“It was certainly a rollercoaster of emotions.

“I’m just delighted to come out on the right side of the result.

“What you saw tonight was two committed teams both going at it and in tight games like that, they can go either way. I’m just thankful”.

Meanwhile, Wellens confirmed that young forward George Delaney passed his late head injury assessment.

WARRINGTON PLAYER RATINGS: Trio stand out in much-improved team performance as forwards asked to do big minutes

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