Sam Burgess speaks after Warrington Wolves v St Helens

The win at The Halliwell Jones Stadium leaves the Wire two points behind second place Hull KR with two regular season games to go.

But the game saw three yellow cards, two in a short spell in the first half - one for Wire Lachlan Fitzgibbon. The other for Saints' Matty Lees.

Both were after lengthy delays due to players being attended to. Although neither went off.

It follows the controversial sending off for Paul Vaughan at Leigh last week.

Here is everything Sam Burgess said

You could say that was a job well done?

Sb: Yes, defensively I thought we were sound apart from 2 points early. We could tidy up a bit in other areas but otherwise it was a good job.

You mentioned your defence there but would you have wanted more points?

SB: That’s more of an outcome but we probably weren’t as fluid as we have been in practice this week so maybe I am expecting a bit too much but we didn’t really ever get going with the ball. Maybe that’s down to St Helens and their line speed and the way they defended on the edges.

Overall it was a good result Matty Ashton, was a finisher with players to beat for the first try.

SB: Yes he has got speed and sometimes that is your best asset. He likes to compete, he is always in the game.

(Image: Warrington Wolves' Matty Ashton is tackled by St Helens' Jack Welsby)

He is a serious threat now to teams

SB He has got a lot going for him now.

There are Warrington teams in the past who could crumble in big games but you never looked likely to today

SB I will probably be biased in my response because I see them every day but we have improved that area. The answer is probably more for you guys. Defensively all year we have not really had any game which has blown away from us. I think our biggest points was Catalans here but we were 18 points down after 10 minutes and after that we have been in every contest and our biggest loss was by 10 points. We have always been in them and when you are in them you always have a chance to get the job done so I am proud of that.

There has been a shift in mindset.

Is the challenge to put more points in time as we come towards the play-offs?

SB Well you have to win first and foremost. Every game, like today is a tough game. We are aware of the situation that we probably need a couple more points but we don’t need to chase it. We just did not ice the performance today.

(Image: George Williams)

Kai has not spent a great deal of time at full back with us, especially alongside George and they are still getting used to each other a little bit and Duff plays a tiny bit different so trying to find a way that works.

Does being in games like that help as we head to the play-offs?

SB I can’t think of a game where we have been blown away. We have got an ability to stay there. Our starts have been slower these last two games so that is a focus for us.

What are you using these last two games for to build for the play-offs?

SB We are trying to build a bit of momentum. We have been building since November and not a lot will change now. We have had the last eight or nine months to build on who we are and what our game looks like. Now it is about putting on the field what we believe in and what we have worked hard for and giving ourselves the best chance by staying disciplined, tidy with the ball and getting out end of sets better.

Can I ask about the two first half cards?

SB It was almost comical. We had a card, they had a card, we had a card. I don’t know what we are doing. The game stopped for five and a half minutes for the first card (For Lachlan Fitzgibbon). But then the player gives the thumbs up and plays on. If you have to stop for five and a half minutes, do we not have concussion protocol? That would stop players staying down.

If you stay down for a period of time, it is a category one in the NRL. There would be less wingers and outside backs staying down if they know it is a category one.

Is there a danger rugby league could creep in play acting against opponents now?

SB Well I think it is clear to see. I am being honest about it and calling a spade a spade. Sam Tomkins said last night about Tyler Dupree. I am not saying he stayed down but I thought he got pretty hard in the head last night but Sam Tomkins said in commentary I can’t be angry with him because it got them a yellow card and won them the game.

So we are seeing it.

At half time Jon Wilkin said Josh Drinkwater should hang his head in shame (with the incident that saw Matty Lees get a yellow.

SB It is Jon’s opinion isn’t it. Did he say anything about the other one? Who did Jon play for again? I don’t want to go down this rabbit hole. But this is a tough game and I am not questioning that and everyone who is on the field had got an element of toughness about them. But they are playing within the rules, we all see them. Players are understanding that there are loopholes.

I think if staying down for a certain period of time meant category one. It would be pretty simple. We had this in the NRL and it stopped this pretty quick. Category one means out for 11 days. You watch how quickly they stop staying down because everyone wants to play next week.

It is a quick fix. Unless you are out cold which you very rarely see these days because the game has never been safer. The game has never been safe for recovery protocols, concussion protocols, player safety, players looking after each other, it has never been safer. The amount of time off they need, sports science, the game has never been safer. Let’s put it if you are down for a certain period of time, category one, see you later. You have to stand down. I can’t help but be honest about the game I care about so much, I feel it will change pretty quick if we can take those steps.