A TRIUMPH of teamwork. So said Shaun McRae after his side's 58-6 trouncing of London Broncos on Sunday night.

WHITTLE: What a pleasure it was to hear Saints' supporters in full voice again after seeing their team running white-hot. More to come hopefully?

McRAE: As I have told you many times before you learn to take one game at a time in Super League, but yes, Saints did hit something like top form and London felt the back-lash. I first sensed we were at last moving in the right direction against Leeds although Saints lost, and was further convinced on winning at Castleford, while Sunday was a triumph of commitment and enthusiasm by the 17-man squad. One or two fans have suggested that Saints missed a few chances, but I prefer to look at the positive aspects after such a display. Among these was the willingness to move the ball wide plus a defence that was pierced just once and, although I am not a 'told you so' merchant, I am on record in saying that things would improve when the injury situation did likewise.

WHITTLE: Tommy Martyn showed a rare brand of courage in battling back to fitness following surgery on both knees and, as against Broncos, is looking more and more like the complete rugby player. Another big 'plus' for Saints, don't you think?

McRAE: Martyn is a class act without doubt and one only has to study his kicking game, relentless tackling and uncanny knack of putting team-mates through gaps for evidence of that. Tommy is blessed with loads of natural ability, works hard in training and is a dream to coach - in short Martyn is a true professional. WHITTLE: The roar that greeted the return of Bobbie Goulding - albeit as substitute hooker - told its own story. Do you intend to use him in that role in the future?

McRAE: Bobbie, of course, has played hooker before, so I had no qualms about sending him on when Keiron Cunningham suffered a further knock following a pre-kick-off pain-killing injection. Tommy Martyn and Sean Long are the men currently in possession of the half-back positions and, like everyone else in the squad, Goulding is prepared to fight for his place. He can also handle the stand-off role and that type of versatility increases my options considerably.

WHITTLE: Stars such as Anthony Sullivan, Paul Newlove, Tommy Martyn and Chris Joynt often earn the headlines at Saints and rightly so, but I also think a word of praise is due to unsung heroes such as Julian O'Neill and super-sub Ian Pickavance. Agreed?

McRAE: Absolutely. 'Mr Consistency' Julian is always high in the tackling charts, takes the ball up well from first receiver, and is set to make his 50th appearance at Sheffield despite being at Knowsley Road for just 18 months. As for 'Picky' the lad is a very good impact player as his 23 tries from up-front would confirm. Not a bad strike rate from an Ian Pickavance whose 145 appearances includes no fewer than 76 from the substitutes bench. WHITTLE: Fingers crossed but, apart from Vila Matautia, does the injury report remain blank?

McRAE: Not quite, because Julian O'Neill broke his nose against London, but that's no big problem for Rugby League players as Mike Gregory will tell you, because he fractured his seven times and I had a straightening job done in my playing days. So you can look out for O'Neill at the Don Valley Stadium.

WHITTLE: Talking of that trip a third successive Saints' victory will boost their chances of closing the gap on Halifax, who are at Leeds. A big incentive surely?

McRAE: Know-alls such as you tell me Saints have not won at Sheffield for six years. Tie that in with the fact that, at the 11th round, the Eagles' play-off chances appear slim and it will be understood that Saints are in for a desperate struggle.

WHITTLE: What happens to the first-team squad during the July break?

McRAE: After the game at Wigan on Sunday, July 5 (kick-off 6.35 by the way) the players will next report for training on Wednesday, July 14, to prepare for the game against - right first time - Wigan at Swansea on the 26th!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.