Never write off the Saints.
In tropical storms, searing western Sydney heat and with the dismissive words of Phil Gould fresh in their minds, Super League champions St Helens have been left rejoicing after downing NRL premiers Penrith to claim the World Club Challenge.
Saints' 21-year-old halfback Lewis Dodd, who was playing in only his second game since rupturing his achilles last April, kicked the golden point field goal to seal Saturday's historic 13-12 win.
Everything had appeared to have conspired against St Helens for the big match.
Sydney had recorded its hottest day of the year, Penrith had barely lost at BlueBet Stadium over the last three seasons and the NRL salary cap is triple the size of Super League's.
Bookmakers had the Panthers down as $1.10 favourites and Gould tweeted that the home side would win so comfortably they would be "able to declare by half time".
"They (Penrith) are the best team over here so to get a result on their home patch - it's one of the greatest achievements," said prop Alex Walmsley.
"The world gave us no chance whatsoever which we embraced and we came with that steely attitude to show what we are made of.
"I keep rehashing it, but for us to do it over here - there's no excuses to say that they didn't take it seriously, go into their dressing room and tell me they didn't take it seriously."
No British side had won a World Club Challenge game in Australia since 1994 when Brisbane were stunned by Wigan, with St Helens coach Paul Wellens labelling the victory "seismic".
Wellens' predecessor Kristian Woolf was invited back onto the coaching staff after the pandemic had prevented him coaching in this fixture after winning three straight titles.
James Roby - St Helens' 37-year-old hooker - steered the ship, but livewire fullback Jack Welsby stole the show as Penrith were denied their first-ever world title.
Welsby was already on the radar of most NRL clubs but interest in the 21-year-old's services are likely to skyrocket.
He scored the first try and then set up human wrecking ball Konrad Hurrell for his side's second and contended well with Nathan Cleary's kicking game throughout.
"We could have easily wilted," Welsby said, referencing the fact Penrith clawed two tries back to tie the game up. "I thought the game was gone, it's a pretty special feeling."
Old Saints - James Graham, Sia Soliola and Tony Puletua - celebrated at full-time as the current crop of players made their way to see a legion of travelling fans congregated on the hill.
As they posed for photos, the supporters unfurled a banner which read simply: "Never write off the Saints".
