St Helens announce deal reg agreement with Championship club

St Helens have announced they have entered into a dual registration agreement with Championship side Halifax Panthers ahead of the new season. Saints have been linked with Swinton Lions over last few seasons, but the club have joined forces with Halifax for 2025.

The Panthers are coached by former St Helens player Kyle Eastmond, of course, who still has a strong relationship with Paul Wellens and senior figures at the club. As such, St Helens fringe players will be given the opportunity to represent the Panthers in the Championship over the course of the campaign and pick up some valuable first-team experience.

Panthers players will have opportunities to work within the Saints set up, too, and feature for the club’s reserves side, the Super League outfit have confirmed.

“We’re delighted to get this partnership with St Helens over the line,” Eastmond said about the agreement. “It’s a club that I understand and that I’m clear on the standards they set on performance from the very top of the club and the staff behind the scenes at all levels.”

“I have a really good relationship with Paul and Mike [Rush] from my early days in the game so already have a strong understanding on the standards of performance within the Saints environment. This aligns perfectly with what we’re trying to create and instil here at Halifax so we’re very much looking forward to working closely alongside each other and bringing value and benefitting both sides of the partnership.”

St Helens boss Wellens added: “We are really pleased to have reached a dual registration agreement with Halifax Panthers, I am sure that it will allow some of our players the chance to play in some highly competitive matches.

“The Championship is a competition of high quality, and playing in that division will be a huge benefit to a lot of players within our squad. Those who go and play will represent our club, our values, and standards when on dual registration and we hope they will contribute to what will be a successful year ahead for Halifax.”