Daniel Anderson calls for Saints' players to "wake up”

Apr 7 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

DANIEL ANDERSON called for his St Helens players to “wake up” after their fourth defeat in five engage Super League games at bottom club Castleford yesterday.

The Tigers were simply too strong for Saints, who were outscored by six tries to four and nobody impressed more than 18-year-old Joe Westerman.

The teenager, who has already drawn comparisons with Andy Farrell and Paul Sculthorpe, scored two tries and proved his side’s most potent attacking weapon at loose forward.

The victory was all the more remarkable given that Castleford had lost eight of their previous nine outings and surrendered meekly at Bradford last weekend.

“We’ve played 40 minutes and that was about it,” said Australian coach Anderson.

“We need to wake up and realise there are too many good teams, when they have momentum they are dangerous.

“Castleford and Wakefield are dangerous and we did not respect that. They performed, we didn’t and that’s the bottom line.”

Dwain Chambers – who has begun a month’s trial with Super League’s bottom club – watched from the main stand after Tigers coach Terry Matterson decided he is not yet ready for his first taste of rugby league.

Matterson said: “There was a whole heap of media this week (surrounding Chambers) and the players dropped their shoulders a little bit and had a little bit of fun with Dwain coming in.”

Castleford were clearly determined not to allow the circus surrounding Chambers to overshadow their performance.

Westerman and Kirk Dixon scores early tries before Paul Clough barged his way under the posts and Maurie Fa’asavalu went over from close range shortly after the half-hour mark.

Sean Long converted both tries and Saints edged further ahead two minutes before the break when Matt Gidley sent Ade Gardner over.

Richard Owen hit back for Cas before Stephen Tyrer stretched Saints’ lead but in the 56th minute Westerman strolled over for his second try.

A penalty from Long kept Saints ticking over but Dixon claimed his second and after Fa’asavalu was sent off Westerman added the extras to secure a famous success.