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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Aaron Bower

St Helens’ decline reaches breaking point with stench of failure lingering

Jackson Hastings puts his knee to the turf
St Helens may have to brace themselves for more short-term pain. Photograph: Callum Pilkington/SWpix.com/Shutterstock

Perhaps the biggest concern as the full-time hooter sounded on another miserable evening for St Helens on Thursday was that the anger, along with thousands of supporters, had long since disappeared and had been replaced with a sense of apathy.

No club have been as consistent a force in the history of Super League quite like Saints. Wigan were almost relegated 20 years ago, Leeds have finished in the bottom half on multiple occasions and the other two champions, Bradford and Hull KR, have spent extended spells outside of Super League. And that is why this is such a story.

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