St Helens’ ‘huge coup’ as star forward signs new long-term deal

St Helens have secured the long-term future of promising young forward George Delaney going into the 2025 Super League season. Delaney penned a new four-year deal with the Saints and that ensures he will remain at the Totally Wicked Stadium until the end of the 2028 season at least.

The prop still had two years left to run on his old deal, but the 20-year-old’s new terms can be expected to reflect his status as a key man in the senior group under Paul Wellens. Delaney has been with St Helens since being a schoolboy, emerging through the club’s youth ranks to make his first-team debut in 2022.

Over the last two seasons he has made 45 appearances for the Merseyside club, with his first try coming in the win over Castleford Tigers in September. In that time he has managed to establish himself as one of the brightest young forwards Super League has to offer. As such, securing his future comes a big boost for Saints, as they head into the new campaign.

“I’m over the moon to get it done, it just makes me excited, really,” Delaney told the club website. “I’ve loved the first two years that I’ve been in the first-team and have been very lucky getting a handful of games every year. I’ve fit into the group really well and I’m not just a young kid who is quite quiet anymore.

“I’ve watched the success that this club has had and I’m very confident we’re going to have a lot of success in the future and that’s why I have decided to sign again.

“Coming through the academy system, you know what it feels like to pull that jersey on, how special it is. Going through scholars and then all the way up to first-team – it means a lot.

“They get it into you early at this club, Saints are very demanding and want to be in finals. Missing out the last two years they have been very disappointing seasons for us to not have a trophy. Hopefully, this year we get some silverware at the end of it and make some memories.”

St Helens head coach Wellens added: “There are very few front rowers in the game who do what George Delaney has done at his age; to have nearly 50 senior match appearances before turning 21 is incredible, particularly given the position George plays in as well. It is a testament to him, his hard work, his dedication, the way he looks after himself, he is as hardworking and diligent as a professional that you will find.

“It has been a steep rise for George in the last couple of years. Once he got the opportunity to play in the first-team he took the chance with both hands, did it impressively, and showed he belongs at this level.

“George has continued to get better week in and week out, year in and year out too, and we are really excited he has chosen to continue developing as a player here longer term. It is a huge coup for us as a club to keep hold of someone like George who is so young and so good, and for him to feel that our environment will remain the best for him to bring out his best. I know he enjoys being here, and his stature within the group has continued to rise, and we all think very highly of him.”