St Helens are reportedly set to raid NRL side Brisbane Broncos with the Red Vee set to sign playmaker Tristan Sailor and land coach Lee Briers in a double swoop.
It was confirmed yesterday by Briers’ current side Brisbane Broncos that he would leave at the end of the season with the St Helens-born coach set to return to England.
No club was named but amidst rumours and rumblings, St Helens was an expected destination. Now, The Daily Telegraph down under are reporting that Saints have raided the Broncos for both Briers and Sailor.
Full-back/half-back Sailor was subject to a two-team race between both Hull FC and St Helens and it appears that the Red Vee have won that race with Sailor destined for The Totally Wicked Stadium next year alongside his attacking coach.
It’s a major boost for St Helens who have been accused of lacking creativity at times this season but they now appear set for a gun new half and a new attacking coach.
St Helens beat Hull FC to major signing
Credit: Getty Images
Whilst Lee Briers is arguably the bigger recruit given the high esteem in which he is held down under, particularly at Red Hill with Brisbane, the signing of Tristan Sailor is a very exciting one.
The 26-year-old can play at full-back or in the halves but given Jack Welsby’s grip on the number one shirt, Sailor would likely move into the halves and replace NRL-bound Lewis Dodd.
Per The Telegraph, Sailor will be released early from his contract with the deal set to be announced in the coming days. He is reportedly unhappy being limited to playing opportunities behind star full-back Reece Walsh.
Despite his talents, he has only played 12 NRL games for the Broncos across the past two seasons with the majority of those coming when deputising for an injured or an Origin-based Walsh.
Given that Briers was credited with transforming the Broncos attack and Sailor has been in the system for the past two years learning under the 46-year-old, it could be a double swoop that can help put St Helens back on top of Super League.
Sailor was also subject to a transfer pursuit from Hull FC, however, the Black and Whites have seeinglh turned their attention to Lachlan Lam with reports from Sky Sports revealing that Richie Myler and the club have “got their man”.
