The 2011 St Helens R.F.C. season was the club's 137th in their history; their 116th in rugby league. They were in contention for the Super League title (with this also being their 16th consecutive year in Super League) as well as the 110th edition of the Challenge Cup and, as announced in May 2011, the new Rugby League 9s tournament, to take place across June. The 2011 season was also the clubs' first since unofficially rebranding as Saints RL, following on from their move away from their home of 120 years, Knowsley Road, to relocate to Widnes, Cheshire and the Halton Stadium, which they shared with Widnes Vikings. This was Australian Royce Simmons first year as head coach of the club, taking over from fellow Australian Mick Potter, who had two years in charge. The position of club captain at St Helens was shared by Paul Wellens and James Graham, following the retirement of club legend Keiron Cunningham at the end of the 2010 season. They began their season by taking on bitter rivals Wigan Warriors at the Magic Weekend, in a rerun of their defeat at the 2010 Super League Grand Final, a game that ended in a 16–16 draw.
Pre-season St Helens ended 2010 with yet another Grand Final defeat, their fourth in a row, to bitter rivals Wigan. It was evident that the personnel at the club, combined with the suitability of Mick Potter's position had become surplus to requirements at St Helens, and widespread changes took place. Potter announced mid-2010 that he would be leaving for Bradford Bulls, his replacement, Royce Simmons; someone who had worked under Tim Sheens for many years at Wests Tigers and with the Australian national side. The very fact that St Helens had been, in many fans' eyes 'reduced' to looking for assistant coaches in the NRL drew a little bit of criticism, but overall, the feeling was positive over Simmons' appointment. The coach would not be the only change either. Club legend Keiron Cunningham retired from playing at the age of 33, after 16 years of paying first team rugby for St Helens, with centre Matt Gidley doing likewise, and returning to Australia. A number of others were to leave too; a combination of age and not being good enough for squad selection under Simmons costing the St Helens careers of 12 of the 2010 squad, most notably, arguably, Maurie Fa'asavalu, who switched codes with Harlequins. The influx was far fewer than the outgoing numbers during the transfer period, with only three names coming into the squad for 2011 from other clubs; these being prop Josh Perry, England centre Michael Shenton, and fellow England cap and prop Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, from Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Castleford Tigers and Harlequins respectively. There were also four new faces in the first team by means of the reserve and academy system at St Helens. Pre-season fixtures announced included a game against Huddersfield Giants at the Halton Stadium on 29 January and the Karalius Cup game against Widnes, again at the Stobart, on the 23rd.
Sponsors St Helens are sponsored in the main by Medicash, after previously being sponsored by both Frontline and the Liverpool-based health care company on the home and away jerseys respectively. However, Medicash took over compete sponsorship of both the away and home strips for 2011. The jerseys themselves will are manufactured by ISC, after 7 years with Puma. St Helens also welcomed Alexandra Business Park and Ruskin Leisure Park as partners for the 2011 season.
Below is a list of St Helens sponsors and partners for 2011: 2011 St Helens RLFC sponsorsCapacityNameKit manufacturerISCStadium sponsorsStobartHome jersey front sponsorMedicashShorts sponsorTudor North WestBack panel sponsor Hattons SolicitorsCollar sponsorLive'smartFront panel sponsorsAlexandra Business ParkArm sponsorJames Edward Land RoverArm sponsorKnowsley Safari ParkOverseas travel partnersEmiratesTravel partnersArrivaTravel partnersHattons TravelWebsite partnersStadium partnersScience in SportStadium partnersMacmillan Cancer SupportStadium partnersPlaying for SuccessStadium partnersRuskin Leisure LimitedBall providersSteedenLeague partnersengage Mutual
2011 transfers
In
In Player Signed from When signedJosh Perry Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles August 2010Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook Harlequins RL September 2010Michael Shenton Castleford Tigers October 2010Carl Forster Promoted from Academy November 2010Scott Hale Promoted from Academy November 2010Thomas Makinson Promoted from Academy November 2010Nathan Ashe Promoted from Academy November 2010Josh Jones Promoted from Academy April 2011Joe Greenwood Promoted from Academy April 2011Warren Thompson Promoted from Academy April 2011Jordan Hand Promoted from Academy May 2011
Mid-season signings for 2012 Player Signed from When SignedLance Hohaia New Zealand Warriors April 2011Anthony Laffranchi Gold Coast Titans May 2011Mark Flanagan Wests Tigers July 2011
Out
Out Player Signed for When leftKeiron Cunningham Retired October 2010Matt Gidley Retired October 2010Nick Fozzard Castleford Tigers October 2010Bryn Hargreaves Bradford Bulls October 2010Chris Dean Wakefield Trinity Wildcats December 2010Maurie Fa'asavalu Code switch (Harlequin F.C.) October 2010Jacob Emmitt Castleford Tigers October 2010Matty Smith Salford City Reds October 2010Steve Tyrer Widnes Vikings October 2010Jamie Ellis Leigh Centurions November 2010Jack Bradbury Oldham R.L.F.C. November 2010Andy Yates Hunslet Hawks November 2010Gareth Frodsham Widnes Vikings (dual-registration) November 2010Tom Armstrong Leigh Centurions (dual-registration) November 2010
Mid-season losses for 2012 Player Signed for When leftKyle Eastmond Code switch (Bath Rugby) November 2011James Graham Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs November 2011
Fixtures and results
Friendlies
Karalius Cup Widnes Vikings 20-52 St Helens
29 January St Helens 12-36 Huddersfield Giants
Super League XVI
Magic Weekend St Helens 16-16 Wigan Warriors
St Helens produced a characteristic fightback in the last 15 minutes to snatch an unlikely draw against a well-drilled, energetic Wigan side. After tries from Ryan Hoffman, Harrison Hansen and George Carmont combined with two disallowed Saints efforts from James Roby and Michael Shenton, the game looked dead and buried at 16–0 to Wigan; with the auld enemy on top in terms of field position, defense, kicking and handling. However, Saints forged a comeback through a rare missed tackle from an otherwise outstanding Wigan defense when Roby put Jon Wilkin away under the posts, bettered by the boot of Jamie Foster. The energy levels visibly went up, and Tony Puletua powered through the Wigan line and somehow grounded the ball with a mass of bodies surrounding him, again Foster good with the goal. It took Saints another five minutes-a period in which Wigan looked threatening once more-to get their draw, with a forward-looking pass from Jonny Lomax finding Francis Meli in space out on the touchline, Foster about three yards wide with what would have been the game clinching kick. Wigan's Sam Tomkins and Saints scrum-half Kyle Eastmond exchanged failed drop-goal attempts late on as both sides settled on a point each in the game of the day at the Magic Weekend.
Round 2 Salford City Reds 22-56 St Helens
St Helens created for the first time this season their most attractive brand of football; free-flowing and point scoring. However, the job was done after an hour, and they seemed to take their foot of the gas-a trait they may not wish to fall into permanently. Saints started sharply against an out of sorts Salford side coming off the back of a heavy defeat to Crusaders the week previous, with tries from Chris Flannery and the first of two from Kyle Eastmond. Salford hit back through Luke Patten, but it took them to the second half to post more points; a spell in which St Helens totally dominated and scored another five tries of their own. James Roby in a brilliant performance, Francis Meli, Jonny Lomax and Ade Gardner all crossed to give Saints a 38–6 lead at the break. The second half started in bizarre fashion, with two tries in the first minute from either side; for Salford Ashley Gibson, for St Helens, Lee Gaskell. Paul Clough and Michael Shenton completed the scoring for Saints, before Stefan Ratchford and Jodie Broughton made the scoreline a little more respectable for the Reds.
Round 3 St Helens 18-25 Warrington Wolves
For the first time in 22 games, Warrington won against St Helens in Super League on a miserable night, both meteorically and psychologically for St Helens, at the Stobart Stadium. It was also Warrington's first ever win in Super League away from home, and was never really in doubt from the moment Lee Briers crossed in the second minute, a score which was bettered by Richie Myler and another from the stand-off before half-time, all of which were converted by Brett Hodgson to give the Wolves an 18-0 half time advantage. Warrington continued to pile on the pressure against an out of sorts Saints side, when Louis Anderson finished from a Lee Gaskell error, Hodgson again with the goal for 24–0. With around ten minutes to play, Michael Shenton crossed for Saints to give them the slightest glimmer of hope; a hope crushed by a Briers field goal that effectively meant Saints had to score three times. Chris Flannery and Lee Gaskell added late scores to give the score an account of respectability, but the performance showed that plenty of defensive work needs to be done for Saints' trophy charge this season.
Round 4 Catalans Dragons 16-22 St Helens
Bouncing back from their first defeat at home to Warrington in Super League, St Helens produced the defensive grit that was all too absent the week previous against a big Dragons pack. Saints opened the scoring with a free-flowing move finished off by Chris Flannery, bettered by the boot of Kyle Eastmond. Despite massive Catalans' pressure, five minutes later Ade Gardner found the line at the corner after good work by Eastmond, Paul Wellens and Michael Shenton, Eastmond this time wide with the kick at goal. The Dragons pressure then duly paid off, with Setaimata Sa latching on to a Scott Dureau kick, Dureau missing with the conversion but Saints nudged further in front with James Graham getting his first of the season, backing Wellens up well to dot down under the posts, Eastmond with a simple conversion. After the break, the free flowing football Saints seemed to be clicking with for arguably the first time this season continued with Michael Shenton scoring in the right-hand corner, Eastmond again missing with the goal kick. Catalans brought the game back within touching distance with a Steve Menzies try and Dureau goal, but Saints edged further in front with an Eastmond penalty, followed by a consolation try and goal from Dureau that made the final score 22–16 to Saints.
Round 5 St Helens 16-27 Harlequins