Rugby League / Ralph Ellis / 03 September 2009 / Leave a comment

St Helens have been Super League's disaster story this season but Ralph Ellis wonders if the return of a certain England forward might be the catalyst for a return to form in tomorrow night's big game against Leeds Rhinos...

"The return of England forward Maurie Fa’asavalu for Friday night’s crunch meeting with the Rhinos might just be the spark Saints need."

How many times have you heard a player, or manager, struggling to come to terms with a dip in form, insisting: "You don't become a bad team overnight"?

The thing is, they are wrong. Every season there are countless examples of sides who appear to be all conquering but then suddenly lose their way. As a for instance Aston Villa were odds on to be in the top four in the middle of February, then lost six of their next seven matches.

This summer's disaster story has been St Helens, runaway Super League leaders in the early part of the season, traded as short as [1.21] to win the regular season, and now watching the Leeds Rhinos monster disappear over the hill and away from them. From the moment they inexplicably lost at home to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in July they have never been the same team again.

Now I don't know what's gone wrong at St Helens. But I do know, because I've seen it in every sport, that when a club gets into one of those sorts of runs, it becomes a massive challenge to turn it round. You start by dismissing it as a blip, but when the problems go deeper then the search for an answer becomes another problem in itself. It can lead to dressing room rows, to rebellions against the coach, to unhappy fans who undermine the fragile confidence even further.

And I also know that sometimes it can take just one small thing to change it all back again - which is why I'm wondering if the return of England forward Maurie Fa'asavalu for tomorrow night's crunch meeting with the Rhinos might just be the spark Saints need.

Is it a coincidence that Wildcats defeat came a week after he broke his arm during a routine win over Warrington? Could be. The giant who started his career playing Union for Samoa was a crucial factor in the early part of the season with his explosive running, used as an impact player off the bench.

Certainly coach Mick Potter needs a player of Fa'asavalu's stature and experience to help him turn things round. It's arguably the first time he's ever faced a similar confidence crisis in his career. It was one thing turning Catalans Dragons into a competitive force, which earned him the Coach of the Year title last season. It's a different matter when you are in charge of one of the super clubs and expected to deliver results.

That's when you need your big players, and the impact of Fa'asavalu - plus the news that Keiron Cunningham may sign an extra year's contract - could be just what's wanted.

A fortnight ago, if you followed this column, we made money by taking [4.1] that Saints wouldn't run up a cricket score tally against Huddersfield. Now it's time to switch horses and go against favourites Rhinos who are a ridiculously short [1.54] to win at Headingley tomorrow night.

Five things you might not know about Maurie Fa'asavalu

1. Now 6ft 3ins and more than 16 stone, he weighed 13lbs when he was born in Apia, Samoa, in January 1980. Growing up he worked in nearby plantations with his dad

2. He moved to Auckland aged 18 on a rugby scholarship, but turned down the chance to play for New Zealand. He was the Samoans top tackler in the 2003 World Cup, which convinced Saints to persuade him to switch codes

3. Biaritz were top of the list of Union clubs trying to sign him when he chose to go to St Helens instead

4. He moved to England with girlfriend Lili - and when they got married they had their wedding reception at Knowlsey Road. Their little boy, called Malama, is now five years old.

5. He became the first Samoan to play for Great Britain when he qualified through residence in 2007, and he was later in England's 2008 World Cup squad

Tags: Leeds Rhinos, Ralph Ellis, Rugby League Betting, St Helens, Super League Betting