St Helens head coach Paul Wellens has commented on reports linking Penrith Panthers assistant Ben Gardiner with his job amid questions of him being under pressure at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Saints have lost four of their last five games with their last three games being defeats and that’s left Paul Wellens‘ side on five wins and five losses in Super League, sitting sixth and heading up a group of four teams on ten points.
The Red Vee play another of those mid-table sides on Thursday night when they take on Catalans Dragons in a game where a loss would ramp up the pressure even more, though Wellens insists it’s not a “must-win” game.
“I don’t really get caught up in must wins on anything like that, to be honest with you,” he explained when speaking to the media.
“It’s an important game for us. Obviously, we’ve had a string of results that haven’t gone our way, so the sooner we can rectify that, the better.”
Paul Wellens responds to Ben Gardiner reports
After the loss at Magic Weekend to Leeds Rhinos, speculation over Wellens’ future rose with plenty of that driven by false social media reports, however, there was a report from Down Under that named Samoa head coach and Penrith Panthers assistant Ben Gardiner as being the club’s “number one target” to replace the St Helens legend.
Wellens was asked about those reports, confirming that he had read them but that he had had no contact with the club’s hierarchy in regards to his future.
When asked, he said: “Obviously I’ve heard the reports, but I can’t get caught up in things that may or may not happen. My focus has to be solely on the playing team, getting and supporting the players through what is a tough period at this moment in time.
“Some people may not believe that I’m a person who can get us out of the situation that we’re in at the moment and people are quite entitled to their opinion there, but I believe I am and I’ve got the full support of the team as well.”
Pushed further on any talks with those such as Mike Rush, he added: “I would very much expect if anything needed to be said, they would come to me first and foremost.”
St Helens boss understands fan frustration
Wellens also addressed the general pressure that he was facing with fans airing frustrations in recent weeks at the run of form.
That was something Wellens confirmed he understood, noting: “First and foremost, I’m a St Helens boy myself so I understand the disappointment when the team isn’t winning and quite naturally that adds to our frustration.”
He did admit though, as he had at Magic Weekend, that the responsibility falls on him and he’s more than aware of the task at hand.
“What I’m here to do is support the players to try and get the best out of them,” he stated.
“Ultimately I know the results stop with me and that was the case in the back end of 2022 when I first took the job and that’s not changed from day one to where I am now.
“I know I’ve got a responsibility to get the team performing, I know I’ve got a responsibility to get the team winning and all my focus and all my energy is going into doing exactly that.”
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Paul Wellens has named his 21-man St.Helens squad that will take on @DragonsOfficiel on Thursday night in @SuperLeague action
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— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) May 13, 2025
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