Potter: Injuries costly for Saints

Mick Potter acknowledged that his St Helens players had faced a task that was "a little bit too tough" as they squandered an eight-point lead in losing at Leeds.

Potter's men had opened up a 24-16 lead over the reigning engage Super League champions, but were hamstrung by the loss of Kyle Eastmond and Leon Pryce. With Andrew Dixon also off with a groin injury, the Saints ran out of bodies and Leeds showed their class as tries from Danny McGuire and Ryan Hall saw them over the line.

"We lost a couple of players and that made it even harder," said Potter. "We didn't need it, but that's the way it goes sometimes."

He added: "Andrew Dixon picked up a groin injury, Kyle got a recurrence of the ankle and there was a back spasm for Leon - he just couldn't move.

"I think when you lose key players it is difficult to mix and match. I thought they tried as hard as they could but it was just a little but too tough."

England scrum-half Eastmond spent large parts of the second-half trying to shake the injury off by running down the touchline but was unable to do so, although his coach is hopeful he is not set for another lengthy absence.

He added: "We're not sure on Kyle, he could be a couple of weeks. The physio says it's not as bad. We were hopeful he could go back on but it just wasn't right."

Potter also pledged to speak to referee's chief Stuart Cummings about video referee Thierry Alibert's decision to award Hall's match-winning try.

There was some doubt as to whether or not McGuire had got the narrowest of forward touches to the ball as it made its way through to Danny Buderus, with numerous replays proving to be inconclusive.

"I did have a couple of issues with it," Potter said. "I'll have to take it up with Stuart as I thought there was a touch with the ball going forward and an obstruction."