For nearly a week, there has been talk surrounding the future of St Helens star Jack Welsby.
It has been a saga since St George Illawarra Dragons coach Shane Flanagan stated that the Dragons were interested in the England fullback and in talks with him over a move.
They promised to up the negotiations after a verdict was made on their stand-off Junior Amone. He was found guilt of threatening a man with a hammer alongside his dad. He avoided jail but was handed a correctional sentence and now the NRL has made a decision to de-register him stepping up their interest.
But despite this, he has reportedly agreed to a “monster extension” until 2028 with an option to extend to 2029.
League Scene reported: “Jack Welsby will not be coming to the NRL anytime soon. The talented young fullback has agreed to a monster extension with St Helens that will see him remain at the club until at least 2028 with the option to add an additional 12 months to the deal.”
Great news for Welsby who has come through the system at St Helens. He played at Shevington before moving to the Royals and shone on the Academy’s 2017 Tour of Australia. In 2018, he was the Academy’s dominant half, proving to be a real threat with the ball. His form saw him called up to the Lancashire Origin and England Academy sides too.
His talent was showcased in 2019 as he made 11 appearances in the first team, particularly impressing in a number of composed performances at full-back.
Welsby grabbed all the headlines at the end of 2020 as his last minute try secured our second successive Super League crown, beating Wigan in an enthralling contest. A last-second effort for a drop-goal came off the posts and Jack’s chase and grounding of the ball after the hooter is one of, if not the most, dramatic moments in our sport’s history.
2021 was another stand-out year for our young Saints star, playing virtually every position on the pitch throughout the year, scoring an impressive 14 tries in 26 games including playing a key role in our first Challenge Cup success for 13 years. Jack was named in the Super League Dream Team for the first time and took home the Player and Players’ Player of the Year trophies at the end of season club awards.
In 2022, Welsby picked up the famous number 1 Saints shirt, earning it from departing beloved Saints star Lachlan Coote, and he would go on to have another important year in the Red V. For a second year straight he was crowned Super League’s Young Player of the Year, registering 13 tries and 30 assists. So impressive the fullback was, he was named in the Dream Team and nominated in the three-man shortlist for the 2022 Man of Steel.
In 2023, the fullback further cemented his place as one of THE best and brightest in all of world rugby league by scoring and being named Man of the Match in the Saints’ historic and seismic victory over Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge. The Saints’ #1 also earned a third straight Dream Team nomination in a third different position, and was shortlisted for the Man of Steel Award for a second year running. Closing out 2023, Welsby was named as England captain for the opening two tests of a series whitewash over Tonga.
