There were times last year when you wondered how St Helens would cope this season without Ben Barba, whose performances throughout large periods of 2018 made him seem irreplaceable prior to his ill-fated return to the NRL. Yet if anything, this looks like a side better equipped to cope without Barba following the latest exemplary showing of their title credentials here.

Justin Holbrook has been fond of praising the new-found balance his side has without Barba, who was often capable of winning games on his own for the Saints last year. Never have Holbrook’s beliefs seemed more prophetic than here under the lights at Castleford, where they dismantled one of their main rivals for the title in devastating fashion.

Nothing is won in March of course, but with seven straight wins to start the season, this is already looking like one of the most formidable Saints sides in years. “We’re improving every week,” was the ominous verdict of Holbrook post-match. Given the quality of this all-round display from the Saints, it would be unfair to single anyone out: but Barba’s replacement is well worthy of a mention.

“Fantastic,” was how Holbrook summed up Lachlan Coote’s latest imperious performance at fullback, with the Scotland international playing a pivotal role in establishing the Saints’ 18-0 half-time lead. Coote opened the scoring after three minutes, before laying on the tries for Regan Grace and Dom Peyroux which, even at that early stage, looked as though it would be enough.

Their third try prompted Castleford’s coach, Daryl Powell, to leave his vantage point and cross the field to the dugouts just as the Tigers were preparing to kick off again – and whatever he said there and at half-time did not have the desired effect, as the Saints continued to press home their superiority after the break, scoring five more tries to run out comfortable winners.

“It was a harsh smack around the chops,” Powell said. “There’s no excuses because we’ve been completely outplayed. We’ve got some searching to do as we move through the week.” Castleford may have won five of their first seven games, but Powell added: “I really don’t think we’re playing all that well at the minute.” In regards to this display, it was hard to argue.

But as poor as Castleford were, it is the Saints who deserve the credit for such an imperious performance. In the blink of an eye after half-time they had extended their lead when Zeb Taia crossed, before Théo Fages sent Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook through another alarming gap in the Castleford defence.

Three of those first five tries came via errors from the Castleford wing, Greg Eden, who was subbed after McCarthy-Scarsbrook’s try. “He does things at 100 miles per hour, and some of his decision-making didn’t have much thought to it,” Powell said afterwards. Even with Eden off, Castleford’s defence could not handle the Saints – and while late tries to Michael Shenton and Jake Trueman ensured the hosts at least would not be nilled, the visitors finished with three more tries – Peyroux, Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival – to underline their superiority.

Castleford Mata’utia; Minikin, Foster, Shenton, Eden; Trueman, Rankin; Watts, McShane, Millington, Moors, Holmes, Massey. Interchange Cook, Sene-Lefao, Clare, Milner. Tries Shenton, Trueman. Goals Rankin 2.

St Helens Coote; Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace; Fages, Lomax; Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, Peyroux, Taia, Knowles. Interchange Paulo, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lees, Ashworth. Tries Coote, Grace, Peyroux 2, Taia, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Percival, Lomax. Goals Coote Referee J Child.

Wigan will not stop Shaun Edwards from coaching elsewhere

Wigan will not stand in Shaun Edwards’ way if he wishes to take up another coaching opportunity instead of his proposed return to the Super League champions in 2020. The club’s owner, Ian Lenagan, confirmed Edwards’ claims last weekend that there is only an “oral agreement” between the parties as opposed to a signed contract.

Edwards revealed in the aftermath of Wales’ Six Nations triumph that he had not signed a contract with Wigan, despite being unveiled at a press conference by the club last August.

Lenagan confirmed that in a statement on Friday and said Edwards has asked for more time to consider his options in light of reported interest from within rugby union.

Edwards has already linked with roles at Wasps and England after this autumn’s World Cup, and Lenagan said: “Wigan’s position is that it has an oral agreement with Shaun Edwards to become coach from 2020, cemented by a handshake and announced publicly in August. I take full responsibility for including the mention of a signed contract in our press release at the time. I have done business on many occasions on the basis of an oral agreement over a handshake.”

Lenagan also said Wigan would not stand in Edwards’ way. “I have had constructive dialogue with Shaun this week to make it clear that, despite our desire for him to take up the role as agreed, we would not attempt to hold him to any agreement if he preferred to take up a different option. Shaun asked for more time to consider his options, and I agreed to his requested and understand his reasons for doing so.”