COACH Paul Wellens was left bitterly disappointed after watching Saints suffer a tough 80-minutes in front of their own fans – succumbing to a 42-6 defeat at the hands of league leaders Hull KR.

He was not prepared to play the injury card for a side missing 10 first choice players, but instead cited the side’s lack of intent, soft contact and a failure to win the collision that ultimately allowed the Rovers to run amok.

Errors, including a mix up from the kick, plus the early sin binning of Waqa Blake played their part – but ultimately Wellens placed the blame on his side’s soft underbelly that allowed Rovers to repeatedly win collisions and roll down the field in yardage.

And with that platform to play off they were able to stretch the home defence for what seemed to be simple scores.

Wellens said: “There was obviously an unfortunate error there at the start of the game and all we did from then on, it seemed, was defend.

“We got on the wrong side of the energy battle but we have to handle those situations better… have to.

“The error was compounded by losing Waqa Blake then we're doing more defending.

“Our first up contact was really poor at the start of the game.

“It was an area that we had spoken about being better in because players like Ryan Hall, Peta Hiku, out in the backfield, they're a strong team, good ball carriers with a lot of run threats.

“We needed to control that side of the game and didn't do it from minute one.

“We looked drained of energy after that and things didn't really get any better.”

Rovers, and Joe Burgess in particular, had a field day on their right – which eventually saw Tommy Makinson and Tee Ritson swap wings to try and stem the flow.

But Wellens again pointed to the initial cause of those defensive frailties.

“We got rolled down the field far too easily, then became really under pressure and under fatigue made really poor decisions on an edge and that's where champion teams systemically stay together in those circumstances.

“That's how you get out of tough periods.

“But we had a lot of individuals trying to solve things on their own and doing things that are not part of our defensive system.

“Our left edge had a bit of a torrid time particularly in the first 40 minutes,” he said.

“There was some improvement after the break because there had to be because I don't think the first half could have got any worse, really.

“So there had to be some improvements and we got that, we had a bit more intent about our D and Agnatius set the tone there at the start of the second-half.

"But again ultimately we were not good enough in the in the second 40 as well and that's all on the scoreboard also.”

Saints’ woeful display was exploited by a Hull KR side who are running hot this year and gunning to finish top for the first time since their halcyon days in the mid 80s.

Wellens said: “Hull KR were excellent - and they have been for a good number of weeks now and we spoke during the week about the threats and how we had to be good in certain areas to nullify them.

“But realistically we gave them everything they needed.

“They're a dangerous team, a team in form, a team playing with confidence and undoubtedly the form team of the competition right now.

“We had to be good and were not anywhere near that.”