Sam Tomkins has given a brutal assessment after the release of Kyle Feldt by St Helens with the former Man of Steel claiming that the Australian will not be a big loss.
That’s in spite of Feldt averaging more than one try per game during his 29-game spell with the Red Vee since, from signing ahead of the 2025 season to his release last week.
St Helens shared a brief statement to confirm the veteran winger’s exit with personal reasons cited as the why, whilst Paul Rowley also redirected questions about the Australian’s exit to the club statement.
Shortly after confirming that exit, Saints also re-signed full-back/half-back Tristan Sailor to a new three-year deal, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2029 season. That’s a major decision by the club and Rowley, who has come under fire of late for the spine inconsistencies with Sailor moved about and Jack Welsby clearly not being utilised as best as possible.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of Warrington Wolves and Leeds Rhinos, host Brian Carney highlighted the recent movement at St Helens, stating that it was an ‘indication of the changes going through at the club’, with pundits Sam Tomkins and Jon Wilkin giving their verdict.
Tomkins was forthright on Feldt’s exit, stating: “I don’t think it’ll be a big loss. I don’t think Kyle Feldt’s going to make a big difference not being in that squad.
“It might galvanise a group, somebody else gets an opportunity. I don’t think it’s going to change how Saints’ season turns out.”
For Wilkin, it was less about if St Helens would lose anything in Feldt but more about what is next as he hammered the club’s recruitment of the winger whilst insisting that the clock now starts for Paul Rowley in regards this upcoming off-season.
He declared: “Recruitment is everything. Get it right! Kyle Felt has not worked. We’ll see how the rest of the recruits at Saints go.
“It’s an interesting period of recruitment now for Paul Rowley, his first influence in that market, other than the Wrights and the Crosses and the people who have been brought in recently.”
With Rowley only appointed as Saints boss in October, he had little say over how the squad would be built for 2026 but with Daniel Suluka-Fifita already brought in and contracts such as Sailor’s three-year deal being handed out, it’s now time for Saints to build on their squad or fear being left behind by others.
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The Joker
June 21, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Q) – How many spine players that all want to play week-in week-out can you get in a Rugby League team?
A) – Not as many as St Helens have!
Surely the salary cap is there to limit these brain farts!