Mike Rush has hailed St Helens half-backs Jonny Lomax and Lance Hohaia after they answered their critics in style during the win over Leeds.
The duo had come under fire for a lack of creativity in their Challenge Cup defeat by Wigan.
However Lomax and Hohaia have received the backing of caretaker coaches Rush and Keiron Cunningham - and they responded by orchestrating the 31-18 triumph at Headingley.
"I thought Jonny and Lance were very good for us," Rush said.
"They don't have anything to prove to me and Keiron.
"Everybody is quick to write them off when we lose a game. We've won eight from 10 with this pairing and they're still getting to know each other.
"The longer the season goes on, the stronger that partnership will get."
Lomax scored two of St Helens' five tries and took over the goalkicking when Tommy Makinson was knocked out in a challenge from Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield midway through the second half.
Makinson had also made his mark before being carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital by producing a wonderful finish for Saints' third try, surviving a shoulder charge by Brent Webb to plant the ball down one-handed by the corner flag.
The injury to Makinson, which will almost certainly rule him out of Sunday's derby with Wigan at the Magic Weekend in Manchester, took some of the gloss from Saints' win.
"I've been really impressed with Tommy for a good while now," Rush added.
"He just needs to put a run of games together but unfortunately it's gone against him."
