St Helens hope that by parting company with head coach Royce Simmons, they will improve their chances of winning this year’s Grand Final.
Saints are 7/1 with bookmaker to win the Grand Final in October after losing their last four games, including the weekend setback at Bradford Bulls, 50/1 to win the Grand Final.
The club decided to axe 51-year-old Simmons, who was in the second year of a two-year contract, as they were in their worst run of form since 1985.
St Helens have appointed head of performance Mike Rush as acting head coach, with former captain Keiron Cunningham as his assistant, and club chairman Eamonn McManus has said: “Our season has got off to a difficult start and it is best to make change sooner rather than later.
“We have every faith in Mike Rush and Keiron Cunningham. They each know the club inside out and have all the experience together to take us forward.”
