# 2009 St Helens RLFC season

St. Helens entered their 137th year in 2009, and were in contention for of rugby league's Super League and Carnegie Challenge Cup competitions.

## 2009 season
### Super League XIV
#### Round 1

Saints come back from a 14-nil deficit early in the second half to beat Warrington Wolves 26-14.

#### Round 2

Saints turn over the much improved from last season Huddersfield Giants 23-6.

#### Round 3

Hull Kingston Rovers inflict Saints' first defeat of the season, with Michael Dobson scoring a late penalty goal to give the Robins a 20-19 win.

#### Round 4

Saints scrape past newly promoted Crusaders in the lowest scoring game in the Super League; Tom Armstrong scoring the only try in a 4-nil win.

#### Round 5

Saints brush aside the Salford City Reds by 38 points to 12.

#### Round 6

Saints edge a heated epic with Leeds Rhinos - winning 26-18 at Knowsley Road.

#### Round 7

Saints hammer Wakefield Trinity Wildcats by 42-18. The Wildcats are in mourning for reserve player Leon Walker, who died in a reserve game.

#### Round 8

Saints scrape past a fired up Wigan Warriors outfit, winning 19-12 after being 6-nil and 12-6 down.

#### Round 9

Saints bounce Hull F.C. in the second game of the Easter period by 44-22.

#### Round 10

Saints become the first team in Super League XIV to surpass 60 points, winning 68-22 at Castleford. Tony Puletua scores 4 tries but the game is halted for 30 minutes as Joe Westerman suffers a serious head injury.

#### Round 11

Saints suffer only their second defeat of the season as Bradford come back to win 34-30.

#### Round 12

Saints produce arguably their worst display of the campaign, losing 38-18 to arch rivals Wigan at the Magic Weekend.

#### Round 13

Saints defeat Catalans Dragons for the second time in a week, by coming back from 22-10 down to win 32-28 to move them back to the top of the table.

#### Round 14

Saints survive a second-half rally from Harlequins RL to win 22-12.

#### Round 15

Saints ease past the challenge of Hull FC, winning 30-6.

#### Round 16

Saints thrash Castleford for a second time this season in a 50 points to 10 success.

#### Round 17

Saints set a new record of 16 consecutive away wins in Super League after cantering to a 44-18 success over Bradford Bulls.

#### Round 18

Saints nil the Celtic Crusaders for a second time in the season - in a 30-0 win.

#### Round 19

Saints lose their fourth game of the season in a shock 20-10 loss to Salford.

#### Round 20

Saints beat neighbours Warrington for the second time in the league, in another fantastic game, this time by a margin of 40-26.

#### Round 21

Despite outscoring their opponents Wakefield by 5 tries to four, Saints crash to their second defeat in three games, losing 22-20.

#### Round 22

Saints bounce back from two defeats in three games with a convincing 44-24 win at Harlequins to take them back to two points clear at the top of the table.

#### Round 23

Saints edge a third game of the season against Wigan, with Kyle Eastmond scoring a late try to secure a 10-6 victory.

#### Round 24

Saints lost their third game in six as they crashed to a 26-10 loss at Hull KR.

#### Round 25

Another below-par performance saw Saints scrape past a youthful Huddersfield outfit by 12 points to 10, after being 10 points down.

#### Round 26

In a much improved performance, Saints are edged out by bitter rivals Leeds 18-10 in a third superb encounter of the season to all but end their hopes of a fifth consecutive League Leader's Shield.

#### Round 27

Saints are beaten by Catalans in the last game of the regular season to finish second in the league ladder behind Leeds.

### Challenge Cup 2009
#### Round 4

Saints just edge past a second epic in two weeks against Leeds in a bruising encounter - pulling through 22-18.

#### Round 5

Saints thrash Catalans Dragons 42-8 to reach the Quarter Finals.

#### Quarter-Finals

Saints trounce a spirited Gateshead Thunder side 66-6 to advance to a record ninth consecutive Semi-Final.

#### Semi-Finals

Despite a Francis Meli hat-trick of tries, holders Saints were beaten 24-14 by Huddersfield.

### Play-Off Series
#### Week 1

Saints beat Huddersfield in Week One to progress to the qualifying round in a 15-2 success.

#### Week 3

Saints reached a fourth consecutive Super League Grand Final after beating Wigan in a thrilling 14-10 win. They will take on Leeds for a third consecutive time at Old Trafford.

#### Super League Grand Final

Saints lose the grand final to Leeds Rhinos 18-10, this being the third consecutive Grand Final they lose to Leeds.

### Upcoming Fixture(s)

Saints will round off their Super League XIV campaign against Leeds Rhinos at the 2009 Super League Grand Final.

### News

It has been announced that, for the 2010 Super League Season, Saints have signed New Zealand World Cup winning centre Iosia Soliola from the Sydney City Roosters on a three-year deal. Additionally, Scrum-half Sean Long will be leaving Knowsley Road after a 12-year stint. He is joining Hull F.C. on a two-year contract. Lee Gilmour is also on his way out of St Helens. The second-row has agreed a two-year deal with Huddersfield Giants for the 2010 season. Young half-back Matty Smith will join Salford City Reds for the 2010 season in a loan agreement. Prop-forward Jason Cayless will be leaving Saints too after 4 seasons with the club owing to a shoulder injury. He will return to Australia. Hull Kingston Rovers prop Nick Fozzard will re-join Saints after being released from the final year of his Rovers contract.

### Current squad

| No. | Position | Player |

## 2009 transfers
### Acquisitions

Acquisitions :
| Player | Signed from | When Signed |
| Tony Puletua | Penrith Panthers | October 2008 |
| Iosia Soliola | Sydney City Roosters (for 2010 season) | May 2009 |
| Nick Fozzard | Hull Kingston Rovers (for 2010 season) | September 2009 |

### Losses

Losses :
| Player | Signed for | When left |
| Paul Sculthorpe | Retired | October 2008 |
| Mike Bennett | Retired | October 2008 |
| Willie Talau | Salford City Reds | October 2008 |
| Dean McGilvray | Salford City Reds | October 2008 |
| Nick Fozzard | Hull Kingston Rovers | October 2008 |
| Steve Tyrer | Crusaders (loan) | June 2009 |
| Matty Smith | Crusaders (loan) | October 2008 |
| Sam Thompson | Blackbrook ARLFC | Contract terminated and player returned to amateur football |
| Scott Moore | Huddersfield Giants (loan) | October 2008 |
| Sean Long | Hull F.C. (for 2010 season) | June 2009 |
| Lee Gilmour | Huddersfield Giants (for 2010 season) | July 2009 |

## Fixtures and results

| Competition | Round | Opponent | Result | Score | Home/away | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Friendly | N/A | Widnes Vikings | Loss | 26–28 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 4,128 | 27/12/2008 |
| Friendly | N/A | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | Win | 26–22 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 3,549 | 18/01/2009 |
| Friendly | N/A | Widnes Vikings | Win | 54–6 | Away | Stobart Stadium Halton | 2,562 | 01/02/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 1 | Warrington Wolves | Win | 26-14 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 17,009 | 13/02/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 2 | Huddersfield Giants | Win | 6-23 | Away | Galpharm Stadium | 11,338 | 22/02/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 3 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Loss | 19-20 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 11,830 | 27/02/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 4 | Crusaders | Win | 0-4 | Away | Brewery Field | 6,351 | 07/03/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 5 | Salford City Reds | Win | 38-12 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 9,723 | 13/03/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 6 | Leeds Rhinos | Win | 26-18 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 13,966 | 20/03/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 7 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | Win | 18-42 | Away | Belle Vue | 6,038 | 29/03/2009 |
| Challenge Cup 2009 | 4 | Leeds Rhinos | Win | 18-22 | Away | Headingley Stadium | 17,689 | 05/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 8 | Wigan Warriors | Win | 12-19 | Away | JJB Stadium | 22,232 | 09/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 9 | Hull F.C. | Win | 44-22 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 13,684 | 13/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 10 | Castleford Tigers | Win | 22-68 | Away | The Jungle | 8,003 | 19/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 11 | Bradford Bulls | Loss | 30-34 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 11,039 | 24/04/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 12 | Wigan Warriors | Loss | 38-18 | Neutral | Murrayfield Stadium | 29,687 | 02/05/2009 |
| Challenge Cup 2009 | 5 | Catalans Dragons | Win | 42-8 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 7,176 | 10/05/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 13 | Catalans Dragons | Win | 28-32 | Away | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 9,065 | 16/05/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 14 | Harlequins RL | Win | 22-12 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 9,359 | 22/05/2009 |
| Challenge Cup 2009 | QF | Gateshead Thunder | Win | 6-66 | Away | Gateshead International Stadium | 4,325 | 30/05/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 15 | Hull FC | Win | 6-30 | Away | KC Stadium | 12,009 | 05/06/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 16 | Castleford Tigers | Win | 50-10 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 9,680 | 12/06/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 17 | Bradford Bulls | Win | 18-44 | Away | Grattan Stadium | 10,599 | 21/06/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 18 | Celtic Crusaders | Win | 30-0 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,684 | 26/06/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 19 | Salford City Reds | Loss | 20-10 | Away | The Willows | 4,808 | 03/07/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 20 | Warrington Wolves | Win | 26-40 | Away | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 12,075 | 11/07/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 21 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | Loss | 20-22 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,651 | 17/07/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 22 | Harlequins RL | Win | 24-42 | Away | Twickenham Stoop Stadium | 4,258 | 25/07/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 23 | Wigan Warriors | Win | 10-6 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 15,563 | 31/07/2009 |
| Challenge Cup 2009 | SF | Huddersfield Giants | Loss | 14-24 | Neutral | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 10,638 | 09/08/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 24 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Loss | 26-10 | Away | New Craven Park | 8,976 | 16/08/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 25 | Huddersfield Giants | Win | 12-10 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,708 | 21/08/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 26 | Leeds Rhinos | Loss | 18-10 | Away | Headingley Carnegie | 19,997 | 04/09/2009 |
| Super League XIV | 27 | Catalans Dragons | Loss | 12-24 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,268 | 11/09/2009 |
| Super League XIV Play-offs | Qualifier | Huddersfield Giants | Win | 15-2 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 6,157 | 19/09/2009 |
| Super League XIV Play-offs | Semi-final | Wigan Warriors | Win | 14-10 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 13,087 | 10/10/2009 |
| Super League Grand Final | Final | Leeds Rhinos | Loss | 18-10 | Neutral | Old Trafford | 63,259 | 17/10/2009 |

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Leeds Rhinos (L, C) | 27 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 805 | 453 | +352 | 42 | Play-offs |
| 2 | St Helens | 27 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 733 | 466 | +267 | 38 | Play-offs |
| 3 | Huddersfield Giants | 27 | 18 | 0 | 9 | 690 | 416 | +274 | 36 | Play-offs |
| 4 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 27 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 650 | 516 | +134 | 35 | Play-offs |
| 5 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 27 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 685 | 609 | +76 | 32 | Play-offs |
| 6 | Wigan Warriors | 27 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 659 | 551 | +108 | 30 | Play-offs |
| 7 | Castleford Tigers | 27 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 645 | 702 | −57 | 28 | Play-offs |
| 8 | Catalans Dragons | 27 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 613 | 660 | −47 | 26 | Play-offs |
| 9 | Bradford Bulls | 27 | 12 | 1 | 14 | 653 | 668 | −15 | 25 | |
| 10 | Warrington Wolves | 27 | 12 | 0 | 15 | 649 | 705 | −56 | 24 | |
| 11 | Harlequins | 27 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 591 | 691 | −100 | 22 | |
| 12 | Hull F.C. | 27 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 502 | 623 | −121 | 20 | |
| 13 | Salford City Reds | 27 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 456 | 754 | −298 | 14 | |
| 14 | Celtic Crusaders | 27 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 357 | 874 | −517 | 6 | |

## 2009 Squad

As of 29 July 2009:
| Number | Nationality | Player name | Position | Weight (kg) | Height (m) | D.O.B. | Previous Club |
| 1 | | Paul Wellens (VC) | FB | 96 | 1.85 | 27/02/80 | St Helens Academy |
| 2 | | Ade Gardner | W | 94 | 1.88 | 26/06/83 | Barrow Border Raiders |
| 3 | | Matthew Gidley | C | 94 | 1.86 | 01/07/77 | Newcastle Knights |
| 4 | | | C | | | | |
| 5 | $^1$ | Francis Meli | W | 100 | 1.88 | 27/04/79 | New Zealand Warriors |
| 6 | $^2$ | Leon Pryce | SO | 98 | 1.91 | 09/10/81 | Bradford Bulls |
| 7 | | Sean Long (VC) | SH | 85 | 1.75 | 24/09/76 | Widnes Vikings |
| 8 | | Jason Cayless | PR | 106 | 1.93 | 15/01/80 | Sydney Roosters |
| 9 | | Keiron Cunningham (C) | HK | 102 | 1.75 | 28/10/76 | St Helens Academy |
| 10 | | James Graham | PR | 106 | 1.88 | 10/09/85 | St Helens Academy |
| 11 | | Lee Gilmour | SR | 99 | 1.88 | 13/03/78 | Bradford Bulls |
| 12 | | Jon Wilkin | SR | 97 | 1.85 | 01/11/83 | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 13 | | Chris Flannery | LF | 100 | 1.86 | 05/06/80 | Sydney Roosters |
| 14 | | James Roby | HK | 87 | 1.78 | 22/11/85 | St Helens Academy |
| 15 | | Bryn Hargreaves | PR | 103 | 1.83 | 14/11/85 | Wigan Warriors |
| 16 | $^1$ | Tony Puletua | SR | 110 | 1.92 | 25/06/78 | Penrith Panthers |
| 17 | | Paul Clough | SR | 98 | 1.83 | 27/09/87 | St Helens Academy |
| 18 | | Kyle Eastmond | SH | 75 | 1.67 | 17/07/89 | St Helens Academy |
| 19 | | Chris Dean | C | 86 | 1.80 | 17/01/88 | St Helens Academy |
| 20 | | Gareth Frodsham | PR | 100 | 1.89 | 18/12/89 | St Helens Academy |
| 21 | | Gary Wheeler | SO | 87 | 1.79 | 30/09/89 | St Helens Academy |
| 22 | | Sean Magenniss | SR | 91 | 1.82 | 02/12/89 | St Helens Academy |
| 23 | $^3$ | Maurie Fa'asavalu | PR | 105 | 1.91 | 12/01/80 | Samoan Rugby Union |
| 24 | | Andrew Dixon | LF | 94 | 1.83 | 28/02/90 | St Helens Academy |
| 25 | | Jamie Foster | C | 85 | 1.87 | 27/07/90 | St Helens Academy |
| 26 | | Andy Yates | PR | 98 | 1.86 | 23/02/90 | St Helens Academy |
| 27 | | Jamie Ellis | SH | 85 | 1.79 | 04/10/89 | St Helens Academy |
| 28 | | Matty Ashurst | SR | 90 | 1.86 | 01/11/89 | St Helens Academy |
| 29 | | Tom Armstrong | W | 92 | 1.90 | 12/09/89 | St Helens Academy |
| 30 | | Jonny Lomax | FB | 82 | 1.77 | 04/09/90 | St Helens Academy |
| 31 | | Jacob Emmitt | PR | 102 | 1.86 | 04/10/88 | St Helens Academy |
| 32 | | Paul Johnson | C | 88 | 1.87 | 13/03/88 | St Helens Academy |
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