With the Super League campaign now at its halfway stage, tension is building throughout the division, though few teams carry the weight of past success and high hopes quite like St Helens.

The sunny afternoon contest against a struggling Huddersfield outfit offered some relief for Saints and coach Paul Rowley. Defeat would have been hard to accept, yet they secured a straightforward 38-6 result.

Even so, the scoreline cannot hide the clear challenges facing a club steeped in tradition. The table shows Saints just two points from second place and four ahead of Leigh outside the top six, but appearances can mislead.

The Huddersfield match summed up their season: comfortable against weaker sides yet only two wins from seven against current playoff teams. Against stronger opposition the same mistakes would likely have proved costly.

This marks a sharp drop from the dominance Saints enjoyed earlier this decade, when four straight Super League crowns and the 2023 world title made them the team others envied. Today they sit far from title contenders.

In recent seasons much of what St Helens have done on and off the pitch has fallen short of their usual high standards. Since claiming world champion status, only a handful of new signings have truly succeeded.

Instead several overseas recruits have struggled to meet expectations at a club of St Helens stature. With long-serving chief executive Mike Rush departing soon after Rowley arrived, the coach faces pressure to reverse that pattern.

Rowley has not faced such demands before. The expectation to win and to do so with flair exceeds anything he encountered at Salford or Leigh. Known for attacking styles, that approach has yet to emerge fully.

Rowley also took over a club undergoing change. Several stars from the successful era have departed while others show signs of decline. Further player and staff exits this year add to the sense of flux, though it remains unclear if this reflects Rowley shaping the squad.

After the game he captured the mood by admitting he took no pleasure from the win. Many spectators appeared to share that view. The score was only 16-6 after an hour and Huddersfield's try brought visible unease before late scores settled matters, though the display lacked quality.

Rowley stressed his desire to play a particular style that is not yet evident. He believes time and adjustments will bring the team closer to his vision.

Rowley still appears unsure about his ideal full-back, with the sense that well-paid Tristan Sailor and Jack Welsby may not fit together. Sailor's new deal until 2027 raises questions over Welsby's long-term role as England's preferred option.

The result ended three straight losses, a worrying run in this region. Tougher tests await with July fixtures against Wigan, the local rivals and current form leaders. Those games, not matches like this, will define judgments on players and coaches.

Despite their Super League record, closing the gap that has opened to the leading sides may prove their sternest task yet.