Saints eyeing up forward replacements for departing duo

With the departures of James Bentley and Joel Thompson confirmed, it’s going to be a back-row rebuild for St Helens in 2022.

But, boss Kristian Woolf is excited by the challenge, as he told the St Helens Star.

“We had the same challenges at the back end of last year, but we certainly did well in being able to bring in people who we think have strengthened the club.

“Look at Sione Mata’utia and Agnatius Paasi and what they have added to the club as people – and what their families have added – on top of what they have added on the field.

“You can throw Joel into that, too, so we have certainly done a good job there.

“Our biggest challenge is when you win two comps you are under pressure salary cap wise.

“Everyone’s value increases on the back of that because all of our players have played a part and they deserve an increase in terms of their value off the back of that.

“That is where the challenge is and that just gets bigger every that the club has success.

“We want to keep them here, as Saints players, and the majority of the group are certainly going to do that.”