St Helens fail in bid to sign ex-Castleford Tigers winger Denny Solomona from Rugby Union, according to reports

It’s no secret St Helens are looking to add strength on the wing following the departure of Welsh international Regan Grace to Rugby Union.

Youngster Jon Bennison has excelled since coming into the side out wide, but Saints have won the Super League title four years in a row because of their strength in depth and a new winger is high up on their agenda.

New head coach Paul Wellens deservedly handed Bennison the number five jersey for the 2023 campaign, but that seemingly hasn’t stopped the Saints hunting for another winger to provide a fearsome look to their backline for the new season.

And if reports in The Rugby Paper are to be beleived, the champions have already failed in an attempt to land former Castleford Tigers winger Denny Solomona who currently plays for Super Rugby outfit the Highlanders.

The 29-year-old left rugby league in 2016 to join the 15-man code where he spent six seasons at the Sale Sharks, scoring 47 tries in 88 games.

In 2017, Solomona’s form earned him an England call-up on citizenship grounds as the Auckland-born speedster made five appearances and scored in Eddie Jones side’s tour of Argentina.

After leaving Sale in 2021, Solomona returned home to Auckland to sign for the Highlanders but despite his high-profile standing in the other code, it’s beleived St Helens still made an approach for the winger.

Solomona left Super League with an incredible try-scoring record of 70 tries in 66 competitive games.

After scoring 10 tries in 21 games during his debut season with the London Broncos in 2014, Solomona was snapped up by Castleford where he went on to break numerous scoring records and was named in the 2016 Super League Dream Team.

During just two years at The Jungle, Solomona scored a remarkable 60 tries and in his second season he broke the record for Super League tries in a single campaign, notching 40 tries to break a 12-year record held by former dual-international Lesley Vainikolo.

Given his record, it’s no surprise St Helens have made a move for the winger, however, if reports are to be believed, the Saints were knocked back by Solomona who is happy in the 15-man code back home in Auckland.