ST HELENS coach Mick Potter tipped a bright future for Shaun Magennis after his side’s 32-18 victory over Harlequins in the last Sunday afternoon match to be played at Knowsley Road.

Paul Wellens and Francis Meli each scored two tries for Saints.

Magennis, 20, notched a try on his full debut with Saints’ other touchdown coming from Chris Dean.

Potter said: “Shaun is a player for the future. He has had a hard 18 months with a knee problem but showed he can mix it up in Super League.”

But Potter wasn’t over-impressed with his side’s patchy performance.

“It was a mixed bag,” said Potter. “There were errors from both teams but it was a competitive match for the crowd. We were our own worst enemy at times.”

Quins trailed only 20-18 until Dean went over 14 minutes from time and boss Brian McDermott said: “It was a very brave effort and I have never been more proud of my players.

“We had a real big dig and there were some excellent performances.

“Tony Clubb has been playing like that for a long time and Andy Ellis was outstanding. Olsi Krasniki went well for a young bloke and did not make too many errors. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook suffered a dead leg and bravely went back out there but clearly was not the same.

Meanwhile, links with the past were the key to persuading Potter to commit his immediate future to Bradford.

The Bulls ended their search for a new head coach when the 46-year-old Potter, who is to leave St Helens at the end of the season, abandoned plans to return home to Australia and decided instead to go back the club where coaching began for him 14 years ago.

Potter, who has signed a two-year contract with Bradford from 2011, cut his coaching teeth under fellow Australian Matthew Elliott and alongside Brian Noble at Odsal in the first three seasons of Super League when the Bulls were the trail-blazers for the razzmatazz of summer rugby.

He then returned to Australia, where he was an assistant coach to current Huddersfield boss Nathan Brown at St George Illawarra, before bursting to prominence as head coach of Catalans Dragons from 2006.

“It was really tough for me initially because I was going home,” said Potter, who is in his second season at Knowsley Road.

“But they were very persuasive and I’m happy to stay. I think they are a club that are in the building phase and that probably suits me.

“I think Steve Mac has laid a good platform to take them forward.

“And, if I was going to stay at a club in England, Bradford were probably the one, having had some involvement there in the past.

“It was my first coaching role and it was a lot of fun back then. I worked with Matthew Elliott and Brian Noble and the players included James Lowes, Paul Anderson, Paul Medley, Brian McDermott and Steve Mac.

“So I had a bit of a relationship with people who are still floating around. I still know some people from back then.”

Potter was coach of the year in his third season with the Catalans after guiding them to the 2007 Challenge Cup final and a third-placed finish in the league and, although he had a tough act to follow after succeeding Daniel Anderson at Saints, he has high hopes of ending his stint at Knowsley Road with silverware.

“Although I’m looking forward to the challenge at Bradford next season, my only focus for the next three months is the St Helens club,” he said.

“Like the players, I’m desperate for success in the Challenge Cup and Grand Final and the fans can be assured of my total and undivided commitment to fulfilling both of those ambitions. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Saints and appreciate the opportunity which they gave to me – I aim to finish with a record of achievement.”

WARRINGTON coach Tony Smith was beaming with pride after his side blew open the race for top spot in the engage Super League with a 23-16 victory over leaders Wigan at the DW Stadium on Friday night.

The Wolves’ first win of the season against any of the “big three” enabled them to close the gap on the pacesetters to just two points with five matches left of the regular season.

“Whether we won tonight was not going to make or break us but it’s good to know we can lift when we need to,” said Smith.