St Helens star Alex Walmsley had touted two of the club’s current youngsters to become ‘superstars’ as the veteran prop assesses how the club’s pack looks for the 2025 season.
Walmsley only made 12 Super League appearances in 2024 with the prop suffering another injury-hit season, something that created far more opportunities for some of the club’s homegrown talent.
Among them was George Delaney with the 20-year-old making a total of 25 appearances in all competitions this past season, whilst fellow youngster Noah Stephens made 14 Super League appearances.
Speaking to Saints TV ahead of the upcoming campaign, veteran Walmsley has spoken on the talent of the duo and his role in potentially nurturing that.
“The responsibility of being a seasoned player comes hand in hand with helping those young boys come through,” the 34-year-old explained.
The Dewsbury-born prop had also noted how St Helens were out to ‘right the wrongs’ of 2024 with the Red Vee finishing in a disappointing sixth place before losing a nailbiter to Warrington Wolves in Round One of the play-offs.
Walmsley ‘really excited about St Helens pack’ as he names stars of the future
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Injuries had hampered the club massively in 2024, a curse which turned into a blessing as it gave more opportunities for both Delaney and Stephens – a pair that Walmsley has tipped to go right to the very top.
He explained: “I’m really excited about the St Helens pack, in particular, some of those young lads and not necessarily for this year but for where the pack will be in the next five or ten years.
“George Delaney and Noah Stephens, for me, are going to be real superstars within our sport. Building a pack around them for the future is exciting and I’m excited as an experienced middle to see how they keep developing.
“If I can help them along the way then I’ll do my best but them two in particular are very keen and you can tell that they really want it.
“We’ve seen over the last two or three years how good George is but I think we’re going to see more Noah and Noah is going to be there for a long time.”
Such improvements from the young pair would see them challenge Walmsley, who turns 35 in April but is contracted until the end of the 2026 season, for a starting spot, but for now, he retains that starting shirt number.
“I want to keep that (number eight shirt) for as long as I can,” the England prop said.
“I still very much believe in myself and that I’ve got a lot to offer our club. I’m as determined as ever to make sure that I’m the best version of me that I can be.
“Whether I keep hold of that number eight for the next two years, we’ll see but if I was to lose it then losing it to either George Delaney or Noah Stephens would be really fitting – just not yet.”
