St Helens boss answers loan question as ‘challenge laid down’ to players

St Helens coach Paul Wellens has responded to questions about the possibility of a player being loaned out and confirmed the ‘challenge’ he has ‘laid down” to his squad ahead of their clash with Hull KR on Friday night.

Victory over Hull KR would mark the best of the season for St Helens and one of the best of Wellens’ tenure as head coach of his boyhood club, but he’s aware it won’t come easy.

“Quite naturally, it’s an important game because we want to start making our way up the Super League ladder and we also want to start winning games consistently,” Paul Wellens confirmed.

“That’s a challenge I’ve laid down to the team and it’s where we need to get to, so building on the last two weeks with a strong performance and a great result up at a place like Hull would be huge for us.

“Talking about it is easy, going there and doing it is completely different. We know what challenge is in store for us on Friday and it’s one we’re preparing for well and we’re excited about the opportunity.”

St Helens boss calls for consistency after recent wins

The Robins, who head to Wembley eight days after hosting Saints, top Super League and have lost just once in 2025 and Wellens knows how tough the test is for his side in East Hull on Friday night.

He explained: “Obviously, the squad that Willie’s named, they feel that continuing to play well, continuing to be consistent is the best way to approach a big game. It’s going to be a great test for us, a great challenge, and also a great opportunity to go up against arguably the form side in the competition.”

As such, a win would be massive for St Helens, especially given their poor recent run against the top teams with no win against any of last year’s top four (Wigan, Hull KR, Warrington, Leigh) since victory against the Warriors on Good Friday in 2024, a run of 15 straight defeats.

Put to him that victory over Hull KR would ‘send a message’ to the rest of Super League, Wellens quipped: “Maybe so. I suppose you’d have to ask other teams.

“Our primary focus is on ourselves and building consistent performances. Then if we do that, we’ll start to climb the Super League ladder and that may or may not send a message, I’m not sure. We’re keeping the focus very much on ourselves.”

Wellens responds to suggestion of possible Jon Bennison loan exit

One man who won’t be in action on Friday night is Jon Bennison with the winger dropping out of the 21-man squad, having missed out on the matchday squad the last two weeks.

Bennison’s last minutes came against Leeds Rhinos at Magic Weekend with the winger hooked in a move that saw Tristan Sailor shift to the wing and Jonny Lomax return to the spine, a system that Wellens has backed in the club’s recent wins.

With Harry Robertson returning to the 21-man squad this week and Wellens confirming that Kyle Feldt is one of three who should be available for Round 14, the Saints boss was asked if plans to loan the 22-year-old Bennison out had been considered.

Wellens responded: “It’s still very early days. Obviously, he’s not in the 21 and quite naturally, like a lot of players, they’ll get a lot of disappointment when they’re not playing.

“I haven’t thought too much in depth about things like loan moves or anything yet with regards to Jon. He’s a brilliant young man, really hard-working, diligent in everything that he does.

“Although he has been disappointed, his levels at training haven’t dipped at all.”

Prior to being hauled off at Magic Weekend, Bennison had played in every Super League game bar the season opener, but his path to first-team minutes now looks difficult.