Super League Grand Final: St Helens' Lachlan Coote & Kevin Naiqama hope to bow out with hat-trick of wins
- Published
All three of Lachlan Coote, Kevin Naiqama and Theo Fages are leaving St Helens after Saturday's game
Betfred Super League Grand Final |
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Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 9 October Kick-off: 18:00 BST |
Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra & BBC Radio Merseyside; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app; highlights on BBC Two at 17:00 BST on Sunday, 10 October and on demand on BBC iPlayer |
Lachlan Coote and Kevin Naiqama hope Saturday's Super League Grand Final ends in a "three-peat" farewell to their respective spells at St Helens.
Coote, 31, is off to Hull KR for 2022, while Naiqama, 32, will return to family in Australia this autumn.
Both were involved in back-to-back Grand Final wins in 2019 and 2020, and victory over Catalans Dragons would seal the hat-trick for the Saints.
"It would be unreal to finish on a high at Old Trafford," Coote said.
"Last year didn't really feel like a Grand Final but I'm sure this year it's going to be back to the old ways.
"Either way, it's going to be the end of an era for me so it's going to be really emotional."
Naiqama added: "It's just a really special group of players and coaching staff. It shows with the silverware and the games we've been a part of, it speaks for itself.
"You'd think after winning so many games, being part of these Grand Finals and the Challenge Cup, that it would drop off, but just with the group we have here I can't speak more highly. I'm really proud to be a part of it."
Coote to miss Roby influence
James Roby (left) has been a inspirational team-mate for Coote
Coote's future was in the balance after his spell at National Rugby League side North Queensland Cowboys soured in 2018, but the move to Saints for the following season has had a revitalising impact.
The Scotland international has thanked the club and coaches Justin Holbrook and Kristian Woolf for having "saved his career", and is also grateful to his team-mates for their contribution.
No matter what happens at the weekend, he will depart St Helens for East Hull with at least two Grand Final rings and a Challenge Cup winner's medal, to go with his NRL premiership from the Cowboys in 2015.
"I'm going to miss the players around me, it's going to be hard to go away," Coote said. "They've brought the best out of me.
"Having the likes of James Roby running us out, there's no one better to want to step up and play for and not being on the field with him is going to be really different."
Naiqama ready to sign off and reunite with family
Kevin Naiqama (left) got the chance for a perfect home send-off for Saints, scoring against Leeds in the semi-final
Having been stranded 12,000 miles from family in Australia by the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions around travel, Naiqama's decision to leave this autumn has been purely personal, rather than sporting.
His powerful centre play has been a major feature of the Saints success, picking up two Grand Final rings and winning the Challenge Cup at Wembley.
Saturday's final hurdle at the 'Theatre of Dreams' is all that stands between the Fiji skipper and those he holds dearest.
"I've decided to put my wife first and my daughter first," he added. "That trumps everything, they're the most important thing to me.
"It's the biggest reason I'm going back. I've had an amazing time here and had things not happened with Covid how they were and not being able to see family, I would probably have extended.
"I'm grateful for my time here and looking forward to putting in one last big performance."
Hope for the future at Saints
The exits of Coote, Naiqama and others such as James Bentley and Theo Fages, will provide opportunities for the young talent within the squad.
Jack Welsby's emergence as an essential name on the teamsheet has arguably accelerated Saints' decision to allow Coote to depart, while Lewis Dodd is the outstanding candidate to replace Fages at scrum-half when the Frenchman leaves.
Woolf's task as head coach will be to sustain the success despite the tweaks in personnel, which will see Will Hopoate, James Bell and Curtis Sironen among others arrive for 2022.
"There's a few of us moving on, but the club has been able to keep its consistency," Coote said.
"I don't think any one player can be the reason for the success, and I think the club is in safe hands with Jonny [Lomax] re-signing and Jack Welsby and Lewis Dodd. There's definitely a good spine to build around."
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