Super League: Huddersfield deny St Helens from clinching League Leaders' Shield
Last Updated: 12/09/14 11:28pm
St Helens coach Nathan Brown was full of praise for his players after they came up just short in their bid to clinch the League Leaders' Shield.
Saints suffered a 17-16 defeat to Huddersfield in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Friday night, opening the door for Castleford to finish the regular season in top spot with a win over Catalan Dragons on Saturday.
The boys were super, to play nearly 60 minutes with 12 men. I don't think anyone can be disappointed with what they did out there tonight. It's certainly the best loss I've ever been involved with.
Nathan Brown
However Brown felt his side - who had to play over 50 minutes with 12 men after the dismissal of Alex Walmsley - couldn't have done much more.
"If Alex's first point of contact is with the head, then it's deserved, if he hasn't made contact with the head, then it's not a good decision," Brown said of the sending off.
"I couldn't tell from where I was sat.
"But we all knew where that game was heading at that point. We were doing pretty well.
"The boys were super, to play nearly 60 minutes with 12 men. I don't think anyone can be disappointed with what they did out there tonight. It's certainly the best loss I've ever been involved with."
The result means Saints, who have led the way since May, missed their second opportunity to be crowned minor premiers - they had lost at home to Warrington the previous week.
"Obviously we would have liked to have won and got the League Leaders Shield tonight but unfortunately it wasn't to be," Brown added.
"What will happen tomorrow is going to happen but, if the guys keep bringing that commitment, I'm sure we will give ourselves some sort of chance of doing well."
Delighted
As for Huddersfield, the victory secures a top-four finish. Coach Paul Anderson was delighted with his team's efforts, especially those of 19-year-old Jake Connor in the absence of Danny Brough.
"I thought our attitude was outstanding," Anderson said. "With the people we had missing and losing Robbo, it was hard but our effort was good.
"I thought Saints were good as well, they kept coming with 12 men. I thought our composure to keep calm was pretty good and our kicking game and kick-chase was very good.
"It's hard to hand out individual praise but Jake Connor keeps doing the good stuff, He's an immense talent, we've got a good player on our hands."
Anderson expects to have all his injured men back for the first round of the playoffs. Luke Robinson was knocked out of the game by the hit that saw Walmsley sent from the field.
