St Helens head coach Paul Rowley has issued an update on the health of prop forward Noah Stephens with the homegrown talent set for a very, very long-term injury recovery.
Rowley confirmed that Stephens’ season is certainly over but admitted that in the worst case, the injury recovery is ‘measured in years’.
Speaking at his press conference on Thursday, Rowley was asked about Stephens, who had failed a HIA and went to hospital after the loss to Castleford on May 23rd.
Almost a month on, Rowley has now spoken, admitting: “It is a complex issue, so I think the club’s going to put something out just to give some clarity around that, or as much clarity as we can give, because it’s nerve damage.
“It’s a slow process, the outcomes aren’t clear, we have to adapt and move as things present themselves, so it’s a really troublesome and potentially bad injury.
“We’re hoping that it’s the best side of that injury, but it’s a tricky one, and the worst side is very, very long-term and measured in years, and the best side is short-term, measured in months, and that would be three, six, and then start rehabbing, so it’s season.”
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St Helens boss issues Noah Stephens update amid long lay-off fears
Stephens, still only 21, has 35 appearances to date for St Helens since debuting in 2024 and Rowley spoke about how devastating the blow was, both for Stephens as a player but also as a person.
The head coach said: “He’s probably the person I’ve been most excited about since joining this club.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with him, and more importantly about him being a promising player, he’s a promising person, he’s an absolute diamond of a lad, and he’s a cracking player, he works hard, he listens, he’s receptive, he’s coachable, and he’s absolutely fearless.”
Rowley added: “He’s unorthodox in how he plays, he’s got leg speed, and so I really like him. Two things for me, the sooner he’s better, because I like having him around as a guy, will be great for me, and the sooner he’s better, because I want him in the team, will be great also.
“Ultimately, I just care about him and him being fit and well as soon as possible.”
On what the next few weeks and months look like for Stephens, and if he can incorporate back into the squad, Rowley admitted that it’s still a very complicated process but that ultimately he wants the 21-year-old in and around the squad when possible.
He responded: “Well I think we’re not at that stage yet. I think rehab then it’s all systems go with the club, but I think to get to the point of rehab is various hurdles to jump in terms of getting feeling back, getting sensations in different parts of his arm which he’s not got yet and ultimately he can’t drive.
“There’s complexities in more ways than one, but I’m with you, the sooner he’s in this club, I don’t care what he’s doing, even if he’s just sat with us in the coach’s room, the better for everybody, because he’s a pleasure to have around.”
