Amid a number of senior players either hanging up their boots or departing, questions have been asked around St Helens’ leadership going forward.
Both Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival will call it a day once the season culminates, whilst club captain Matty Lees will join the PNG Chiefs, albeit that move is still 12 months away.
There is also uncertainty over key half-back Jackson Hastings, who remains without a deal for next season and, despite his occasional lapses, is a very experienced and knowledgeable figure within the camp.
With bags of leadership going out the door, it brings around a critical time for the Red Vee, who are also in the midst of a transitional period whereby Kevin Walters will arrive at the club ahead of next year.
Departing coach Eamon O’Carroll believes that the current crop of Saints youngsters have a real opportunity ahead of them, and expects them to take it with both hands.
He told the press yesterday [Thursday]: “I think the club should be excited about finding the next couple that can go and do that, who are going to take over and fill those positions. I think that’s an exciting challenge, particularly from the group of young players that we’ve got now who are with us every single day.
“It’s probably a nice, timely reminder that there is an end to the career that’s probably just starting out for them, and they’ve got some decisions to make – do they want to commit like those two boys have, and have the fantastic career that they have, or you can kind of coast through it? Hopefully they’ll take the first decision there, and I’m sure they will, because we’ve got a great set of young lads here.”
St Helens coach reveals details of Kevin Walters’ first trip to club
This week, incoming coach Walters has been in the UK on a recon mission, as he looks to get the lowdown on what he is dealing with, before he returns to the club fully after his duties with Australia at the World Cup.
O’Carroll revealed that a couple of conversations occurred between the pair, with the interim boss offering Walters his thoughts on where the squad is currently at.
“I met him a couple of times. Obviously, he’s had a busy itinerary there and is getting some things in place.
“I’ve met him towards the end of the last couple of days, just to go through a few things…who’s really standing up in some adversity.
“I’ve never met him before. He seems like a very good man, a great man. That’s the feedback that everyone says about him. You can see that in his character.
“One thing I will say, he’s extremely excited about coming to the club. I think that’s a great sign that he’s flown over for a couple of days, just to try and get to grips with a few things, and have a look and see for himself where he feels like we might be able to strengthen him throughout the next couple of years.”
O’Carroll denies the notion that the ex-Queensland coach has a “reconstruction job” on his hands, despite Saints’ adverse and underwhelming season.
“I don’t think he needs to, to be honest with you. What’s really important, what I tried to do, is give him some clarity in terms of where we’re actually at at the moment.
“I think it was important to probably just reinforce where we’re at in terms of a squad at the minute because although he’s heavily invested in Super League, to quite understand the severity of where our squad’s at at the minute I still think would be difficult.”
Despite leaving, O’Carroll also revealed that he has had a small part in Saints’ recruitment for 2027, with the likes of Abi Ekoku (CEO) and Eamon McManus (Chairman) looking at him for an unbiased point of view.
“I said from the minute I announced that I’d be going to Rugby Union, my job is to help try and leave this club in a better place… I’ll do as much or as little as you need in that respect.
“It probably puts me in a good position because I’m leaving and I can give a real honest view, so they’ve asked me to do that, and I’ll continue to do that. I’m doing that daily, giving my honest input, and it’s up to them then what bits they take on.
“I’ve really enjoyed the day-to-day of working with them, giving my opinion on where I feel like we can be better and whether that’s potential recruits or people who we need to keep, people who need to go off. I’ve found that really interesting.”
