Walmsley backs Woolf: We don’t know his future but we know he’s committed

Kristian Woolf remains 100% committed to St Helens and the players are not using the uncertainty over his future for a recent downturn in the side’s form.

That’s the verdict from imposing prop Alex Walmsley who says the shock recent defeat at Salford is a blip and a wake-up call, rather than a reason to start looking around for blame.

Woolf remains coy over his own future as head coach, with the Australian tipped for a move to the NRL after leading Tonga at this year’s World Cup.

But after a difficult fortnight that has brought a golden point win at Wakefield and a thumping loss at Salford, Walmsley says anyone looking to blame a dip in form on the uncertainty over their coach, is well wide of the mark.

“Kristian has said that he is 100% committed to us as a coach,” Walmsley told Love Rugby League.

“He will reveal what he is doing next year and we don’t know as players if that is with us.

“But we are sure of his commitment to us and you can’t question that. I don’t think that plays any part in what has happened, it is just a little blip and a reminder, which is better to have now than in six or seven weeks’ time.”

Saints have sights set on retaining title under their boss Woolf 

Speaking on the brand new episode of the Love Rugby League Podcast, Walmsley reveals the honest discussions that Woolf and his side are having in a bid to get back on track. 

He said: “When you are a top four side, to do what we do week in, week out –  with the effort and high energy performances  – it takes a lot out of you.

“We have been sat at the top for the best part of four years and have not had anything like this. I suppose at some point we might have expected a blip, put it down to fatigue, mental fatigue I’m not sure.

“But as a group we have our sights set on retaining our title again and finishing top. We need to get back to our best as quickly as we can.

“Unfortunately, we play a sport where it is all about the end, not what you do in the last 9 months before that. It’s not the team who finishes top who are champions, it is the team who finishes well in the back end of the season. So we need to make sure we are building again.”

PODCAST: Alex Walmsley on turning down NRL, World Cup pressure & John Kear influence

FOLLOW: Keep up with all the latest on the Love Rugby League mobile app and podcast