St Helens signing opens up on mixed debut

St Helens signed outside-back Wesley Bruines on a one-year deal as one of their two signings for 2023.

Dewsbury-born Bruines, 19, spent last season in Australia with the South Sydney Rabbitohs development team.

Despite missing out on a scholarship contract in a Super League set-up, he continued to work hard, and that work ethic saw him rewarded with an appearance for the Yorkshire U17s side, and the England Community Lions.

Following those impressive displays, he joined Wakefield, who beat competition from other Super League sides for his signature and signed a contract until the end of 2021.

Following this, he moved to Australia and was rewarded with a development contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs while at the Coffs Harbour Comets.

Bruines was brought straight into the North Coast Bulldogs Representative team in which he impressed. Following the conclusion of the season, he decided to move back to the UK and will join up with the Saints for the 2023 season.

He made his first appearance for the club on Sunday for the Reserves against Swinton.

He has now spoken about it on Saints TV: “Unreal, putting the shirt on for the first it was a mad feeling. It was a good first hit out, we were unfortunate to not get the win.”

He also got his first try: “I thought I was going to get caught to be honest, I tried to move to the side and ended up going under the posts.”

The goal for the youngster is to just get better and better:

“I just want to keep kicking on and learning. I have a lot of good players to learn from so I just want to keep at that.”