St Helens have continued their longstanding tradition of developing players with five academy starlets set to join the first team in 2026.
One of the primary reasons why St Helens are the only club to make the play-offs in every single Super League season is their incredible academy and the constant flow of talent from within.
Clubs like Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos also have that but they’ve had down years or periods, whereas Saints have always made the Super League play-offs, with their history of having a strong side going back way before the modern era as well.
The St Helens academy has seen some of the game’s greats progress through it, and even within the current Saints squad, they’re are plenty of homegrown stars such as Jack Welsby and Harry Robertson.
Saints have now confirmed that five of their under-18s academy will join the first team in 2026 with yet another batch of players off the conveyor belt of talent.
St Helens’ recruitment needs, squad depth and contract situation for 2026
St Helens announce first-team additions
Of the five new additions, four have progressed throughout the St Helens system from their under-16 Scholarship programme with the fifth, Luca Walsh, recruited in early 2025 after being spotted playing in France.
Walsh is joined in the first team environment in 2026 by fellow academy stars Matty Evans, Tom Humphreys, Billy Keeley and Alfie Tate.
Academy head coach Derek Traynor spoke on the quintet’s promotion to train with the first team, stating: “It’s fantastic to have these young men take their next steps, and combined with players in recent years making that step up too, it has been a very successful cohort.
“All five of these players have been key for our Academy last year, and they have all got fantastic attitudes, great attributes to their game, and a real desire to learn. Their work ethic stands them out, too. Now, it’s about proving they can do it at the top level.”
Traynor continued, adding: “Our success as a Club has been built on a foundation of homegrown players. Look back at our Grand Final winning teams, and a lot of the teams have been Academy graduates.
“The challenge now for these five lads is to push the seasoned First Team players, compete, learn and try to make their marks in the squad, and we wish them the very best with that task.”
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😇 Continuing our tradition of developing talent, St.Helens R.F.C. is delighted to confirm five Academy stars will step up into our First Team environment for 2026!
Read more 🔻 https://t.co/XyjTIApwPl#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) November 7, 2025
