St Helens youngster Owen Dagnell has tried to approach his first pre-season in the St Helens first-team with his mind like a sponge as he aims to soak up as much information as he can.
Dagnell has been with the Saints‘ senior group since summer after being called up with train with Paul Wellens ranks after impressing for the club’s academy and reserves sides. However, he is still working towards a debut for the club and the 19-year-old has high hopes of getting the nod in 2025.
An outside back, Dagnell knows he has plenty of senior faces ahead of him in the wing pecking order with Kyle Feldt and Lewis Murphy arriving in the off-season, while Jon Bennison and Tee Ritson will also be pushing for a spot in Wellens’ line-up in 2025.
Dagnell admits his best chance of game time this season might come away from the Totally Wicked Stadium either on loan or through dual reg, but he’s determined to make the most of this pre-season as he chases opportunities
“We have two new wingers who have come in [Feldt & Murphy] who I can learn off,” he told St Helens’ official channels. “Tristan’s [Sailor] new too and he’s been a major help in getting everyone settled well too, so it has been going really well.”
He added: “I think playing on the wing might suit me best, but if the opportunity came to play in the centres I would take it with both hands.
“Being able to draw on people with a lot of experience, Tommy [Makinson] last year and Kyle this year, I try to absorb everything when they have been talking to me. Feldty has done so much in the NRL, any opportunity I get to speak to him or ask a question, I will do, because it will make me a better player.”
St Helens have seen two new coaches arrive ahead of the new season, too, with Lee Briers and Eamon O’Carroll joining from Brisbane Broncos and Bradford Bulls respectively. The pair will work under Wellens in 2025 and Dagnell has been working closely with them both.
“They’ve been a breath of fresh air and anything they have to say I’m all ears and willing to learn,” he added. “Lee’s detail that he goes into in the attack is something I’ve not really experienced with a coach before.
“Eamon’s passionate about what he does and when he speaks you take it on board. Wello managing the whole thing takes a personal approach with the players, helping us even more. It all feels like a great mix.”
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