St Helens have been tipped to be ‘massively different’ in 2026 under the coaching of Paul Rowley with one of the club’s stars explaining how and why.
Rowley was appointed late last year after the club decided not to renew the contract of Paul Wellens, who had spent three years as head coach and failed to take the Red Vee to either a Challenge Cup Final or Super League Grand Final.
Saints fell short at the semi-final stage in Super League in 2023 and 2025 whilst making it to that stage of the Challenge Cup in 2023 but ultimately, the lack of silverware brought about a change.
That change is major with Paul Rowley renowned for how his side’s attack and that was something that playmaker Tristan Sailor identified immediately when speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about how different 2026 could be.
“I think Saints will be massively different,” he declared.
“Everyone knows Paul Rowley’s style of play and that’s what we’re doing. I think there were probably times that we did try to play last year but we’d always revert to St Helens and what had worked for them for the past ten years, whereas with Rowls we’re always playing.”
St Helens won’t ‘shy away’ from defence under new attacking regime
Whilst Rowley will make a major impact on how St Helens attack, Sailor was keen to emphasise that their gritty and tough defence, which they built recent success on, will remain.
Sailor explained: “He’s an outsider to come into this super successful culture and he’s bringing his evolution with it and that’s what I think it is, an evolution, not necessarily a revolution.
“We have a lot of fresh staff and players but what we’re maintaining is we’ll never shy away from St Helens’ defence and that’s what success has been built on.”
The 27-year-old Sailor had a mixed bag for his first season, scoring and assisting plenty of tries but generally seen as a player who could offer more, with his consistency perhaps questioned.
That was the case for Saints as a team though and Sailor noted just how much of a ‘rollercoaster’ 2025 was.
He explained: “I think (year two) will be very different. On reflection, for us as a team, it was a rollercoaster year last year.
“We were disappointed in the year and to see where we ended up, which was eight points away from a Grand Final against Hull KR (in the semi-final), is probably a good result for how we played.
“I’m so excited because over this pre-season the amount of growth that I’ve seen from us is going to put us in really good stead, along with the new staff and new players. I can’t wait.”
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