Matty Lees says champions St Helens are desperate to show Super League leaders Warrington they remain the boss.
The England prop will lead the charge against the title hopefuls in tonight’s big clash. Four-peat winners Saints are enduring tricky times having lost back-to-back against Wigan and Hull KR, slipping down to eighth. The World Club champions have uncharacteristically suffered four defeats already in just eight games.
In contrast, Warrington won their opening eight fixtures before finally being edged out against Wigan on Friday. They both have a point to prove tonight but Lees insisted: “That’s more so us, than Warrington. They have been the form team in the comp'. We’ve fallen short the last couple of weeks. I’m not sure what’s gone wrong. We’ve looked at a few things and know we’ve missed opportunities.
“We’ve had chances and just not taken them. We need to change that. We’re gutted about where we’re sitting in the table. But we’re looking forward to bouncing back, hopefully catching Warrington up and showing them why we’ve been where we have the last four years.”
There will be extra responsibility on Lees’ shoulders given so many of Saints’ depleted pack remains absent. Fellow England internationals Alex Walmsley and Morgan Knowles are out along with ex-Australia star Sione Mata’utia, Curtis Sironen and Aganatius Paasi. But Lees, 25, was hailed for his staggering effort recently when playing the full 80 minutes in a win at Huddersfield, totting up an incredible 68 tackles.
He admitted: “It’s a new challenge for me, being able to play so many minutes week in, week out but it’s one I’m enjoying. I’m liking playing bigger stints and helping the youngsters out who’ve come in. I do always try to be the fittest. I probably have lacked a bit of intensity these last couple of weeks with doing big minutes. But I’m looking forward to really stepping up against Warrington and delivering a big 80 minute performance.”
And once he’s done that, Lees will turn his attention to England duty once more. He was part of the World Cup squad last autumn and is named in Shaun Wane’s latest 40-man group preparing for the France Test on Saturday week. Lees, one of eight Saints players included, said: “We all caught up on Monday night with the new England squad.
“I’m really looking forward to putting my name in the hat for that France game. But first all I’m thinking about is facing this Warrington team - and getting us back winning.”
Saints hope to welcome back England second-row Joe Batchelor for his first Super League game of the season. He had surgery after suffering an ankle injury in the World Club Challenge warm-up against NRL’s St George Illawarra in February.
