As Good as it Gets: The Story of St Helens' Grand Slam Class of 2006

2014 | Biography

In 2006 St Helens rugby league club won every single team and individual honour that the sport allowed them to compete for. The Saints wiped the floor with all comers domestically and then to top it off they took the World Club crown by beating Brisbane Broncos. It was a special season, illuminated by the appearance of a genuine Australian superstar in Jamie Lyon, but a campaign that had two born and bred Sintelliners in Paul Wellens and Keiron Cunningham as the big beating heart. And with mercurial Wiganer Sean Long pulling the strings behind a dominant pack how could they fail? From time to time sport throws up special teams; a collection of individuals at the top of their game that click together and produce a virtually unbeatable machine. For one glorious year the men in the red vee from the north west glass town earned their plaudits as one of those special teams. As Good As It Gets is the celebration of that team which was so masterful that it was voted BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year.

The book weaves 'as it happened' reaction with chapters of retrospective analysis from coach Daniel Anderson, Man of Steel Paul Wellens, Jon Wilkin, conditioner Apollo Perelini and prolific scorer Ade Gardner.

Mike Critchley (Author)