AFTER a week in which the new law of reckless endangerment was strangely followed by a fine for Saints coach Paul Wellens for effectively advocating for that change, a line can now be drawn under last year’s controversial Challenge Cup semi-final.

Rugby league will move on – and although it may seem bizarre for some observers that Wellens’ bringing the game into disrepute charge has been the only punishment arising from this whole episode the Saints boss this week reflected on the positive side of the law change.

Wellens said: “I accept the punishment and am pretty keen now to draw a line under it and move forward.

“At least off the back of it there have been positive changes to the laws of the game to make it safer than it was previously.”

Sometimes forgotten in the whole saga since the end of July has been the injured players.

Although Alex Walmsley returned to the fray at the back end of the campaign following MCL surgery, it has been a much more protracted road to recovery for Agnatius Paasi.

Paasi knee was "smashed to smithereens" as he sustained ACL, MCL and ankle ligament injuries in that tackle as he careered to the tryline - and he is now five months into what was initially estimated to be a nine-month recovery period.

It is a long, lonely furrow that players with such injuries have to plough, but Wellens paid tribute to the Tongan enforcer’s diligence in knuckling down.

Wellens said: “He’s doing well, and credit to him he’s working so hard.

“When Agnatius takes the field midway through next year again everyone will be delighted for him but what people don’t see is all the hard work he’s done since he picked up that injury.

“Rest assured, he’s working so hard and putting in a lot of hours, not just at the training ground with the physios and rehab but he’s doing all the extra bits.

St Helens Star:

“If you talk about setting a standard and being an example for how to how to respond in certain situations then Agnatius and the way he has reacted has been first class.

“He is at the training base and we do try to do a number of different things we integrate – not just Agnatius – but all the injured players so they have that contact with teammates. But it is the nature of being injured where you spend a lot of time on your own doing rehab.”

Wellens outlined other players who ended the season with injuries, who have required treatment, rest or surgery.

“Mark Percival had a cracked sternum, which at the time was very painful but he’s making good progress and is back in full training.

“He has benefited from the time he has had off and is showing up well on a day-to-day basis.

“The prognosis on Lewis Dodd, who had shoulder surgery, is that we are confident he’ll be fit to start the season.

“The only other one missing in the full time squad will be young Will Roberts, who has got a similar injury to Agnatius Paasi. That is unfortunate for him in his first year at full time – but he’s working hard,” Wellens said.

It had already been revealed that Jonny Lomax had played on last year with broken ribs, but the news that Dodd played on with a shoulder injury meant that both of Saints’ halves will have done it tough last term.

Wellens praised the pair’s toughness and resilience to play on despite not being 100 per cent fit.

“One thing you have to do as rugby league players is to show a bit of toughness – and that is exactly what those guys have done.

“Jonny has shown for a number of years now how resilient he is and how much he is prepared to put his hand up for the team.

“Lewis Dodd faced a similar challenge last year and responded in exactly the same way – and there are more than just those two who are prepared to tough it out when their bodies are not quite feeling 100 per cent.

“You need those types of players if you are going to be successful,” Wellens said.