St Helens

ST HELENS star Matty Lees left in the middle of Saturday’s crunch play-off clash against Leeds Rhinos.

Rugby league fans were left gobsmacked when they saw Lees, 27, making his way out of the AMT Headingley Stadium during half-time.

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The prop left in his tracksuit while Saints were trailing 12-6 to the home side.

However, it was quickly reported by Sky Sports that the England international had received news that his wife Beth was going into labour.

Fans quickly took to social media to wish the happy couple all the best.

One rugby league enthusiast tweeted: “Good luck Matty, see you next week.”

Another commented: “Fair play to him.”

A third wrote: “Good luck.”

This fan said: “All the best!”

And that one wished: “Wishing you and Beth absolute happiness.”

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St Helens managed to fight back in the second half and went on to turn things around with a 16-14 victory.

Lees has been a pivotal figure for Saints this season, missing only two Super League games.

St Helens coach Paul Wellens revealed the baby wasn’t due before Sunday but had an agreement with his player that if things changed he would be allowed to leave.

Wellens said after the game with the Rhinos: “His partner was due to be induced tomorrow but things transpired [differently].

“You can’t have a word with the baby inside and ask it just to hold off for a few hours, so things gathered pace quicker than thought.

“I spoke with Matty in the week and it was really important that he’s there for the birth of his child.

“It’s an important rugby game and yes we’d love him to be there, but he makes sacrifices to perform for us and the most important thing is he was there.

“We had a very clear plan during the week and we were comfortable that if he had to leave, he would leave. When that moment came, we made what I feel is the right decision.

“It’s difficult for him in that situation. You need to be there for your partner, but at the same time you think you’re letting the boys down.

“He needs to know he’s not letting the boys down, because he never does.”

MARK Percival believes St Helens are proving talk is not always cheap, especially when it comes from within.

For a frank discussion is proving the moment their season turned a corner.

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Just over three months ago, boss Paul Wellens was getting all kinds of stick as the former four-time Super League and World Club champions floundered.

Now after nine wins in 11 matches, Saints are firmly in the race for a top three finish and defeating rivals Wigan tonight would put them in contention for second.

And centre Percival can pinpoint the moment the tide started to turn – and the real St Helens started showing up.

He said: “About 12 weeks ago, we all had a good sit down – I think it was after the Warrington game – and a chat.

“I’ve been part of this club for 12 years and I’d not had a chat like that for a long time. It wasn’t nice at the time, a lot of honest things were said.

“But I think it really did turn the corner for us. Since then, everyone’s bought into what we want to do.

“Everyone knows St Helens as a club – we play tough but also play smart. We lost that a bit. We were trying to beat teams by going out there and expecting it to happen.

“We wanted it easy at the time but over the last 12 weeks, we’ve relearned how hard it is.

“We beat Wakefield by a few points but everyone said it was harder than it seems. That’s because we were putting in the effort we were supposed to.

“And you feel for the coach sometimes when they’re copping the stick. It was to do with us on the field if I’m honest. We had a good enough team out there, but we weren’t performing.”

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St Helens and Wigan would be a fierce derby if they were playing tiddlywinks, never mind rugby league.

Throw in competition for England places against Australia and you have even more reason to perform, especially at centre.

As well as Percival, you have Saints’ Harry Robertson and Wigan’s Jake Warde battling it out as the 31-year-old admits one of those roles is taken if Herbie Farnworth is fit.

He added: “There are a lot of good players in my position. Harry, myself and Jake out there tonight.

“I know what I can do but I see the likes of Herbie and Jake as absolutely brilliant players. No-one’s getting in over Herbie, he’s probably the best centre in the world.

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“And I hope he’s fit for England’s sake.

“Harry’s superb and it’s kept me on my toes as we’ve players coming up who are athletic, strong, brilliant.

“Every club has a transition period. A few years ago, we had all that success but you lose players who won all that.

“Now we’re trying to build that team again and over the next few years, with the young lads we’ve got, it can get back to that as they’ve the ability to do it.”

A TOP women’s rugby league player faces a ban after being sent off for apparently asking a referee which opponent he is having sex with.

Sinead Peach, of champions York Valkyrie, was given an instant red card by Oliver Salmon after supposedly posing the x-rated question during their side’s loss at St Helens on Saturday.

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After seeing an 8-0 lead slip in the 18-8 loss, Peach – a former Woman of Steel – allowed her frustrations to boil over in the 79th minute.

When a decision went against her side, she allegedly asked the referee: “Which one are you shagging?”

Mr Salmon halted the match after the outburst and immediately told the 27-year-old what he thought.

“Sinead, come here,” he ordered to the York captain. “I’m not having any of that.

“I’m not having you saying, ‘Which one are you shagging?’ You’re off.”

The resulting penalty allowed Saints to add the final two points of their win.

Now the Rugby Football League’s match review panel will look into the incident and decide whether Peach will face any disciplinary charges.

If, as expected, she does, she will face a hefty ban if found guilty of questioning the integrity of a match official.

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