Since St Helens shocked the NRL by defeating their Champions Penrith Panthers in their own backyard, the interest in their star players has gone into overdrive particularly for Man of the Match Jack Welsby and match winner Lewis Dodd.
As this interesting mounts, Paul Wellens was asked about retaining these players.
Wellens didn’t seemed phased by the prospect of interest in his star players as he listed off plenty of top players who have committed their long term future to the club.
He said:
“That’s our challenge as a club to retain our best players, we have had a lot of success in doing that.
“You look at Jonny Lomax, James Roby, Mark Percival, Tommy Makinson, Alex Walmsley, Morgan Knowles, I can go on, Matty Lees.
“A lot of players there who could quite comfortably go and played elsewhere, in the NRL or wherever.
“But we’re delighted that those fellas have committed their long term future to our club and that will be the challenge again moving forward.
“If other clubs and particularly clubs from the other side of the world are showing an interest in our players then we’re doing something right.
“That challenge remains and stays, it’s not one that we shy away from.
“We have created a good environment and that is the focus for us not what other clubs are doing.”
It was reported by the Sydney Morning Herald this morning that the Saints are ready to “upgrade and extend” Jack Welsby’s current contract.
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