Amidst growing pressure on St Helens head coach Paul Wellens, the club’s reported “number one target” to replace him has been revealed.
Pressure has been slowly mounting on the St Helens boss across the season but the current run of three losses in a row has seen it reach an apex, and that resulted in unsavoury scenes at Super League Magic Weekend.
Wellens was approached by fans who made their frustrations clear by way of abuse, something which the Saints boss addressed in his post-match presser following his side’s 17-4 loss to Leeds Rhinos.
In a classy response, Wellens said: “I will continue to conduct myself in the right way despite being under huge amounts of pressure, I know that.
“What I won’t comment on is if people want to behave themselves in a certain way they can do that, if that’s the way they want to be. I won’t stoop to that level.”
Without wanting to state the obvious, it should be made perfectly clear that such fan actions are inexcusable, however, civilised fan frustration is one of the reasons why there is growing pressure on Wellens.
St Helens linked with Samoa head coach Ben Gardiner
For a team so used to winning, the slump the club find themselves in has amounted to frustration and that inevitably leads to calls for change, despite the fact Saints still sit in the top six.
With Wellens under pressure, reports of a replacement have emerged Down Under with Penrith-based journalist Peter Lang revealing that current Panthers assistant coach Ben Gardiner is being talked about as a “number one target”.
Gardiner serves as an assistant under Ivan Cleary and he also coaches the Samoan national team, leading them against England in their 2024 autumn series.
Posting on X, Lang revealed Gardiner as the “number one target to take over” but no further information on when that possibly could be was added.
Gardiner has been part of the Panthers coaching team since 2023 so has helped oversee two Grand Final wins but he is yet to be the head coach of a club set-up at senior level.
WHISPERS: Panthers Assistant Coach Ben Gardiner is rumoured to be the number one target to take over as head coach for Super League side St Helens in the UK.
Current Saints coach Paul Wellens is under increased pressure to keep his job after his side lost 17-4 to Leeds Rhinos… pic.twitter.com/D5Q6G9lw4X— Peter Lang (@PeterVLang) May 5, 2025
