WINNING the Grand Final would be the best way of saying thank you to the Saints fans, who have backed the club despite being locked out of the grounds since March.

That is how coach Kristian Woolf sees it as he prepares his side for Friday's showpiece against Wigan at Hull's KCOM Stadium.

Many of those supporters have given up their season ticket money for the year - and have continued to back the club from their living rooms after their hopes of a spectator return ended in disappointment.

Woolf said: "The clubs have done things really difficult and one thing that has helped is that the fans have stuck by clubs and supported us through that.

"Being in a Grand Final is a way in which we can say thank you – being able to win it would be an even better 'thank you'."

Woolf, in his first year as Saints head coach, also spoke of his own learning curve during this difficult Covid-impacted season.

"Every year you learn a little bit more and how to handle different situations.

"The biggest one this year has been the Covid situation – and we have learned to be flexible, having to adjust and think on the run a little bit.

"That has changed everything and has meant that everything is a bit insecure.

"We have had to deal with that as coaches and players and everyone involved.

"I am sure that is the same in every walk of life as well.

"The things we have learned will change off the back of that – but there are a lot of them as well."