SAINTS coach Kristian Woolf praised the loyalty and support of the club's home fans after more than 13,000 packed into the TWS for the final regular round match of the Super League season.
The crowd was bolstered by a deal with sponsors Home Bargains who, just as they had done for the Catalans game at the start of the year, helped fill up the East Stand usually reserved for away supporters.
As he prepares to sign off at his time at Saints, Woolf thanked the fans who have followed in numbers far and wide this year - including plenty of long-haul road trips.
Woolf said: "Our fans have been outstanding all year. For 13,000 to turn up for a top versus 12th and a bit of a dead rubber game shows how good they have been.
"They hung around and helped create an atmosphere at the end for the League Leaders Shield presentation and really showed their appreciation for all of the players, all of the staff and for what the team has done this year.
"One thing I really want to mention our fans for is we look over at that East Stand most weeks and there might be 100 or 200 people in there and I feel sorry for some teams.
"Whether we have gone to Hull, Whitehaven, Catalans or Toulouse and we have got a couple of thousand there all the time.
"They are always making noise and making the effort and that doesn’t get lost on our players and is something we are proud of."
There was significant applause for Woolf when his name was read out during the presentation - with Saturday being the first public opportunity to acknowledge him since he announced his departure.
"I have said all along that it is hard to say goodbye to this group, this club and it was hard to say goodbye to the fans.
"When it comes to the appreciation they show towards me, it is two-way and I appreciate them just as much and everything they do and bring for us.
"It is a dfifficult thing to have to do but the positive for us is that I don’t have to say goodbye just yet and I have another game at least and hope to make that two.
"I say regularly how much I love working with the group because of what they give you every week – not just on the field but at training and around the place. They are outstanding to be a part of.
"If I can play my small part in the success they have and has derved, that is what we are going to do in the next few weeks," Woolf said.
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