St Helens linked with NRL star

St Helens had their Super League crown ripped from them this season with defeat to Catalans Dragons in the play-off semi-finals, but they’re looking to reclaim that title and have now eyed up a possible target to help them do so.

It’s being reported by the Mole of Wide World of Sports that Paul Wellens’ side are potentially looking at Papua New Guinea and Melbourne Storm centre Justin Olam.

Olam has shone during his time in the NRL, earning the 2021 Daly M Centre of the Year accolade and aged 29 he still has plenty to offer for a top team looking to lift silverware.

The centre has spent his whole career with the Melbourne Storm but is now being linked per the Mole, who had taken to X, formerly Twitter, to report the story tweeting: “Now @Saints1890 hunting Justin Olam.”

It would be a major move for Saints to make however centre Will Hopoate has been allowed to leave at the end of his contract so there is a need at the position, and more importantly there is a quota spot available for the overseas star.

Olam represented Papua New Guinea at the World Cup in 2022 where he faced off against England in PNG’s 46-6 loss in the quarter-final. He had previously scored at the tournament in the group stage when PNG defeated Cook Islands c0mfortably.

If he would join St Helens and Super League he would continue the trend of a number of Papua New Guinean internationals heading to the competition.

At present there are nine PNG internationals plying their trade in Super League including Leeds Rhinos’ Rhyse Martin, Leigh Leopards’ pair Lachlan Lam and Edwin Ipape, Castleford Tigers’ duo Liam Horne and Nizon Putt, new Salford Red Devils’ recruit Nene Macdonald as well as recently promoted London Broncos’ Wellington Albert.

Should Saints actually move for Olam then he’d become the tenth player at present and he’d also add plenty of depth and strength to Paul Wellens’ side.

Currently Saints boast Mark Percival, Konrad Hurrell and Ben Davies as their centres following Hopoate’s departure which would suggest they are potentially looking at the position, and Olam could be the fit that they need.

One sticking point could be that his current contract doesn’t expire until the end of the 2026 season which would make the move less likely but it’s a long off-season and plenty has happened already, whilst plenty more will be sure to happen too.