Scully: Our attitude is wrong

By Paul Sculthorpe St Helens and Lions star

To say I am devastated about the Challenge Cup defeat to Leeds is an understatement.

A place in the final was in our hands and we threw it away. We were 58 seconds away from winning it and we let them score.

It is no consolation whatsoever to have been part of such a fantastic game.

Our coach, Ian Millward, told us "people will always remember you were part of probably the best semi-final there has ever been" after the game.

The players were devastated by the defeat

But that does not make any of us feel any better.

As I said, the game was in our hands after we responded magnificently to Leeds' flying start.

Congratulations to Leeds - they showed once again that they never give in. They were blowing at times and they still kept fighting. It was a great team effort from them.

Daryl Powell mixed up the Leeds team a little bit but we weren't too surprised.

Like us, they wanted to win the physical battle so they picked an extra forward, moving Kevin Sinfield to number six and bringing Chev Walker into the pack.

Match report: Leeds 33-26 St Helens

That gave the team more size and power. But we were expecting that.

Once again we were poor in attack.

Sean Long's introduction midway through the first half gave us a few more options in attack and I think Longy played well, trying a few things and taking the game to Leeds.

But we were poor in other areas.

We need to bounce back - it is down to individuals to put things right

That is three defeats on the bounce now - the first time that has happened in three years - and we have to turn things around quickly.

It is hard to pinpoint where we are going wrong, but I think our attitude lately has not been right.

The ability is there. You do not become a poor player and a bad team over night. It is the attitude to play at your best that seems to be missing.

Those who are not doing that need to stand up and take a look at themselves.

But we can analyse and talk about our weaknesses until we are blue in the face - it is action we need.