SHANE Wright has the message one group of people may not want to hear after his heroics – ‘Sorry, you’ll have to wait longer.’
The St Helens back rower is already a fan favourite just two matches in following the after-the-hooter try that shattered Leeds’ hearts.
After a penalty awarded with two seconds left, Harry Robertson danced past several players on one side of the pitch with Rhinos fans cheering as their side was 14-12 up when the end of 80 minutes was signalled.
Tristan Sailor slung a reverse pass some 30 metres as the ball made its way to the other and space opened up when they went ‘left to Wright.’
After prop Matty Lees left at half-time to be with his partner as she gave birth – boss Paul Wellens received the message 25 minutes in – front rower Alex Walmsley joked: “The baby should be called Shane Wright.”
But the man at the centre of it all revealed some relatives may now be gutted – they must wait at least another week before he returns to Queensland.
A journey he was just one click away from booking while he wondered whether he would get paid by crisis club Salford.
“Before I came to St Helens on the transfer deadline, I was literally about to book my flights back home,” Wright, who has signed a two-year deal at Saints, revealed.
MOST READ IN RUGBY LEAGUE
“I had that all planned – my head was almost back in Oz.
“I was on the internet looking at it, ready to go. Good job I didn’t book it!
“My brother’s called me a few times, I haven’t answered him yet, but I’m just going to have to say, ‘Hold off another couple of weeks.’
“The boys were beating defenders and doing some freakish stuff on the other side of the field.
“Our job is just to hold shape and be prepared if the ball does come our way, which it did – and I got tunnel vision. I had two team-mates outside me, which I probably could have used.”
Saints’ stunning success – although the Rugby Football League has admitted the decision to award Jon Bennison’s try was wrong – sends them to Hull KR for Saturday’s Super League semi-final, with a place at Old Trafford on the line.
And should Wellens’ men reach the Grand Final, they may save a bit on travel costs as Wright added: “I actually live not far from there, a stone’s throw away.
“So I always see Old Trafford – and a Shane Wright after-the-hooter try to make it there sounds good to me.”
Lees should be back for Saturday’s semi, but will not be there as a father to baby Shane. Instead, he will to daughter Sienna
Wright, 29, conceded: “I’m sure Matty and his partner had some better names than that!”
