Paul Wellens speaks for first time after St Helens exit as NRL switch explained

Paul Wellens is a couple of weeks into his NRL coaching career, a role in which he’s now spoken for the first time since his St Helens’ departure.

The St Helens legend saw his time as head coach of the club end at the conclusion of the 2025 Super League season with Saints deciding not to offer Wellens a new contract, bringing an end to his three years in charge of the club.

He won the World Club Challenge in his first competitive game but silverware eluded the Red Vee after that and much of the 2025 campaign was spent working out the team’s best spine with the club’s attack regularly criticised.

After leaving Saints, Wellens has taken up a role coaching with NRL side North Queensland Cowboys with the 45-year-old confirmed as an assistant coach in early November.

With the NRL pre-season now underway, Wellens has spoken to the Cowboys media team about his new role and how he’s found life since leaving St Helens.

Ex-St Helens boss Paul Wellens picks out early highlights of NRL coaching

The former full-back admitted: “It’s a bit of an adjustment in terms of the climate, which has hit me pretty hard in the last week or so but I’m loving life over here. It’s been a big change for me but one that I’m really excited about.

“I’ve been at the one club for all my life so when the opportunity came to do something different, that really excited me.

“I’ve always kept a close eye on the NRL as a competition and have really enjoyed watching that style of rugby so it’s great to be a part of it.”

Speaking on how training has gone so far, Wellens spoke about both the squad and the coaches as he detailed what had impressed him.

He explained: “I’ve been really impressed with the work ethic and the way the team is going after each training session, it’s been very impressive.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with the staff around how detailed they are with the planning to make sure that we cater the sessions in the right way and get the quality out of them.”

As for which players have impressed, he named a new signing and two seasoned veterans, admitting: “There’s been a number of really impressive individuals out there. A lot of the young players have been very impressive and a player like Reed (Mahoney) who is new to the team has really set an example in terms of how he goes about his training.

“Players like Coen Hess who have been here a long long time continue to set a really high standard. Jason Taumalolo has only started back training recently but you can clearly see the impact and influence he has on the team also.”

Wellens’ Cowboys will be in Las Vegas in 2026 to help kick off the NRL season as they face St George Illawarra Dragons.

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