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Super League: Keiron Cunningham delighted with St Helens' victory over Catalan Dragons

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St Helens have reached the Super League Grand Final for the first time since 2011

St Helens assistant coach Keiron Cunningham was happy to see his club bring back the “good old days” after they reached the Super League Grand Final for the first time since 2011.

Former captain Cunningham was at the heart of Saints' run of success in the first decade of Super League and played in a total of eight Grand Finals.

St Helens, who defeated Catalan Dragons 30-12 on Thursday night, have been on the wrong end of the scoreline the last five times they have been to Old Trafford and will hope to win their first league title in eight years next Saturday.

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Disappointment for Dragons

"It seems like the good old days. We are at the big dance and the boys deserve it. Against all the adversity with the players we've lost, I'm proud as punch for the boys," Cunningham said.

The Dragons came into the match having already beaten Leeds and Huddersfield away from home but faded in the second half at Langtree Park.

Cunningham added: "Defensively they (St Helens) were great. Catalan are a good side but we scrambled so well.

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"We knew if we just stuck to the game plan we could eventually grind Catalan down. They've had a really difficult task but we knew if we kick ball long, chase hard and make tackles, we would get the result.

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"We started a little nervous but the atmosphere was great and the players are really wanting it.”

Courage

It was clearly a game too far for the Catalans but their battling spirit was epitomised by courageous full-back Morgan Escare, who defied a painful hip injury to stay on the field until the game began to slip away from his side.

Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous said: "He said at half-time he thought it would be alright but it was harder and harder for him to move. He couldn't add his pace to the team.

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"The last two weeks, with the lack of days to recover, definitely cost us. We are very disappointed with the loss but I'm very proud of the boys for what they have managed to do for the last three weeks. It is very good for the future of the club. I'm sure we learned a lot."

Defeat brought an end to the involvement of former Great Britain coach David Waite in the Perpignan club. Waite was the club’s first head coach in 2006 and for the last two seasons he has been working as right-hand man to Frayssinous.

"What David has done is amazing and special thanks go to him. He worked hard to improve the team and improve the club and, from 2006, you can see where we are,” Frayssinous said.

"I have just said that this is only the start of something special."

The Dragons re-signed former captain Remi Casty this week and Frayssinous is confident the club will get the green light from the Rugby Football League to complete the signing of Australian Todd Carney.

"I'm pretty confident he will be able to pull on the Dragons jersey next season," Frayssinous said.

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