Wellens: St Helens have the mental edge over Leeds Rhinos
St Helens star Paul Wellens says the Knowsley Road squad now have the mental edge over Leeds Rhinos after stealing Super League's top spot. Reigning champions Leeds looked unbeatable earlier this season but Saints have leapfrogged them into first place on points difference after their 54-0 demolition of Harlequins RL last weekend.
The Rhinos have lost three of their last four matches and Wellens is confident Daniel Anderson's squad will not suffer the same loss of nerve.
And he says if any member of the Saints squad gets too cocky, the rest of the team will bring him back down to earth - and use Leeds as the example.
He said: "We might have a psychological edge over Leeds now.
"Three or four weeks ago we looked out of the running but it just shows the difference a few weeks can make in Super League.
"We have put in a lot of effort and hard work over the last couple of weeks and we have got our just rewards."
Saints have one of the most experienced squads in Super League with the likes of Paul Sculthorpe, Kieron Cunningham and Sean Long running the show and Wellens is confident the trio will keep any complaceny in check.
He added: "With the personnel of the squad, if there are any signs of complacency in the team or in individuals then they are knocked on the head.
"I have not seen any yet and there is no reason it should come in with the big games we have coming up.
"The players have no problem in telling each other to pick up their efforts if it is needed, we don't have big fights at training or anything like that but we all know our responsibilities and if we are not living up to them we get told.
"Leeds' blip proves that nothing is given and just because we have won 13 straight does not guarantee we will win the game after that.
"What it does say is that Super League is a very tough competition and you have to work hard in every match."
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