St Helens are down under to prepare for the World Club Challenge and take part in the NRL’s Pre-Season Challenge.
As they shone against St George Illawarra Dragons, one player gained huge praise from one of Australia’s finest every players.
Cooper Cronk was an NRL winner with Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters as well as a routine State of Origin winner and a World Cup winner with Australia.
He was really impressed by Jack Welsby saying during the coverage:
“I think he has that ability to predict where the ball is going to be. There was a line break through the middle where he knew the play was coming back this way and he hit the accelerator.
“The guy has been unbelievable in Super League and had a really good World Cup.
“He has that rare ability as a fullback to create tries through his passing game but also bob up for the offloads as well. He is very impressive.”
Meanwhile NRL winner with the Cronulla Sharks Michael Ennis added: “There always a few players who pop up who could play in our competition. Welsby is one and Makinson is another.
“Welsby has a really good balance of knowing when to pass the ball and when to put himself about when the ruck is quick.”
Meanwhile, Corey Parker, a former Australian and Queensland representative and an NRL winner in 2006 as well as a player who had the chance to play with the likes of Billy Slater and Darren Lockyer, was also impressed by Welsby.
Parker even likened him to Australia skipper James Tedesco.
“He moves similar to James Tedesco, just to be able to pop up through the middle, the crouch forward and able to break tackles. If you just watch his movements behind the play and where he tracks in and around the play the ball,” Parker said
Commentator Andrew Voss summed up Welsby well when he said: “He makes you watch, you’re anticipating that something is going to happen — and it often does.”
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