After starring in the World Cup for England and helping defeat NRL Champions Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge for St Helens, Jack Welsby has been on the radar of NRL clubs for the better part of a year.
This came to ahead when the St George Illawarra Dragons made a play for the fullback due to the uncertainty surrounding Junior Amone after he was found guilty of threatening a man with a hammer.
The Dragons’ move for Welsby seemingly fell apart with the fullback reportedly agreeing a deal to stay at St Helens until the 2028 season which is a massive boost for the Saints but does not end the possibility of a move down under.
This does not rule out an NRL move completely. Welsby could leave at the end of this deal or an NRL club could offer the Saints a huge transfer fee. This could tempt them but it would have to be a huge sum.
Former coach Kristian Woolf has always backed the fullback to make it in the NRL:
“I was really proud watching him. He’s a terrific player, a terrific person. There’s no surprises there. I see what he does every week. It didn’t surprise me at all. I thought he was the best player on the field.”
When asked if he would be tempted in trying to bring Welsby over to the NRL with his new side the Dolphins, Woolf laughed and said: “That’s a loaded question ha, I’ve signed him here for three years, so I don’t think so.”
However, he has praised the quality of Super League: “I’ve said before that I think the Super League is a great competition. When Saints play Wigan in those kinds of games that’s every bit as similar a level to what an NRL game is, Saints coming over here to beat Penrith in the World Club Challenge certainly proves and shows that as well.
“Sometimes I think it’s probably more important that people look at what they’ve got in Super League and how positive it is, and talk it up rather than thinking there’s something better all the time.”
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