ST. HELENS coach Ian Millward was scathing of Warrington Wolves after Sunday's game at Knowsley Road.

In an unprompted outburst, Millward highlighted criticism of the Wolves' coach, players and tactics. Referee John Connolly came in for some 'stick' too.

Warrington, by their own acceptance, were well and truly beaten by a better team but rarely does an opposition coach rub salt into the wounds.

After learning of Millward's comments, Warrington Wolves coach Darryl Van de Velde said: "They are the words of a naive and inexperienced coach. But I do believe he has been prompted in some of his comments."

Millward said at the after-match Press conference: "I'm sure Peter Deakin, as a leader in Super League, would probably be very disappointed with the attitude of his players and coach in reference to this being a television game.

"I'm sure that would be his impressions and I hope it would be from Peter because I find him a very sharp shooter."

The Saints coach talked in riddles and skirted around issues, presumably to highlight points without suffering comeback from Rugby Football League bosses.

He highlighted that his father, visiting from Australia where he is managing director of the Illawarra-St. George club, had been left bemused by the refereeing standards of Connolly.

Millward continued: "When you stack all of this up, what we have to watch is that we don't make one set of rules for the so-called better Super League teams and a set of rules for the ones that aren't.

"I thought today was very much a levelling. If that's the case for a television game then we'd better just put the even games on the television."

He then added: "Some things out there disturbed me today. I was a bit fearful for my players' safety at times, I've got to say that."

Millward continued to have a dig at the Wolves.

He said: "We had a few opportunites and we took them which is why we're a good team. You have to applaud the players as the scoreboard said we won very convincingly. It was a tough game.

"I'm not trying to cast any aspertions on Darryl (Van de Velde, Wolves coach), he's had some good cattle to work with this year. Everyone said they'd be in the top five, presently they're not and are not going to be, so you'd think some questions will be asked of certain people.

"But I must say this, I thought we played well in adverse conditions.

"We scored some good tries and it will probably be the downfall after today's game that you people (journalists) will probably comment on some of my comments and what you've seen on the pitch instead of the great tries.

"There was a lot of skill on show by St. Helens today. That's what got us out of the areas which we were forced into - our very good skill."

Millward went on to say he was pleased with how his team kept its composure.

He said: "We spoke about it during the week and again at half-time and the referee was probably more flustered than anyone with their tactics.

"But our composure was good. When Warrington dropped their guard we went for the knockout punch and went for it in a big way."

Wolves boss Darryl Van de Velde rubbished any suggestions Millward was making about strong arm tactics and said it was 'the least said the better' about John Connolly's handling of the game.

A 14-7 penalty count against Warrington and 30 minutes down to 12 men through three sin-binnings were factors in Warrington's loss but the Wolves players added to their own downfall.

Van de Velde talked through what went wrong.

He said: "We turned over too much ball and burnt a lot of fuel in the first half.

"At 16-12 we were back in the game. Then, in the set of tackles after we pulled it back to 16-12 we needed to complete to a kick but we didn't manage it.

"We turned the ball over, Saints went down to the other end of the field and scored a try. At times like that we've just got to learn to hang in there for another five minutes.

"Once again, players just don't realise how simple this game is."

Van de Velde admitted: "We're off St. Helens' level, I've no doubt about that.

"They're a better side than us, you don't have to be Einstein to work that out."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.