WINTER WALMER

Dethroned Saints have fire in their bellies

- DAVE CRAVEN

ST HELENS star Alex Walmsley is ready to embrace no longer being a reigning Super League champion and drive on to new heights.

The hulking England prop helped Saints win an unprecedented four titles in a row.

But their dominance was finally ended by Catalans in last year's semis and arch-rivals Wigan were crowned the new kings.

Given legendary captain James Roby has retired and taken on a new role at the club as leadership, culture and performance coach and fellow Grand Final winners Louie McCarthyScarsbrook and Will Hopoate have called it a day, some reckon Saints' time is up.

But Walmsley, 33, argues otherwise and is relishing the new campaign kicking off against the promoted London Broncos on February 16.

He said: "It is a new challenge for us - the first time in four years we're not going in as champions.