St Helens youngster “on top of the world” after Super League debut with veteran’s influence hailed

St Helens youngster Owen Dagnall finally made his Super League debut for his hometown club and is hoping to be called upon again should the chance appear.

The 19-year-old has been at the club since the age of 14, making his senior debut against West Hull in the Challenge Cup at the start of the season.

Following his first full-time pre-season, he was rewarded with a four-year contract to remain at the club until at least the end of the 2028 season.

Now he’s made his Super League debut for St Helens against Huddersfield Giants at the weekend, he’s hungry for more and hopes to give head coach Paul Wellens a selection headache.

Speaking to Saints’ media, he said: “It’s obviously a great feeling. I’ve had to wait throughout the season through injuries for an opportunity, and even through that game, coming on after sixty minutes. I’m on top of the world.

“Hopefully, it’s a start, something that I can build on. Hopefully, I’ve shown in the few minutes I did play what I can be and what I can bring to this team and give the coach a headache on choosing the team for next week or the coming weeks.

St Helens youngster talks about working alongside one of his heroes

Dagnall plays at either centre or on the wing and came on for veteran Mark Percival, a player whom he looks up to at the club.

Wellens shared that Percival felt tightness, so he was removed from the game, and Dagnall said it’s a dream to learn from one of his heroes.

He finished: “He’s been absolutely massive, you can see what he’s done for the club over the past 10 years or so. There were obviously big shoes to fill there.

“So I’m working every day, taking as much advice and experience that I can from the likes of Percy and all the other outside backs at the club to make me a better player in the future.”

With Kyle Feldt expected back fit in the coming weeks, Wellens might have an even bigger selection headache across the backline in the second half of the season.