St Helens may have not got the win over the in the World Club Challenge, falling to a 20-12 defeat and the hands of the Sydney Roosters. However the Super League champions have certainly proven they deserve the respect of the wider Rugby League community.

There is a false opinion amongst many NRL fans that the best Super League team would likely win the wooden spoon in the NRL and certainly wouldn’t make the top eight. Well the best Super League team has just taken the back to back NRL premiers to their limit.

Saints led at halftime and remained within a converted try of the Roosters for the majority of the second before conceding late.

You may be thinking, but surely the Roosters didn’t field a strong team and that’s why St.Helens were able to stay in the game, but 14 of the Roosters players who played in the World Club Challenge also played in the 2019 NRL Grand Final.

🎙️ Captain James Roby believes the @SydneyRoosters knew they had been in a game last night and says the Saints must use that performance as motivation for the rest of the season. 💪

FULL interview on Saints TV 👇

📺 https://t.co/FpxoAm2KjE pic.twitter.com/or9c2ADiB7

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 23, 2020

To me there’s no doubt about it, St.Helens deserve some respect.