Super League coach takes on shock new role

The likes of Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves are still dreaming of dethroning St Helens who are under a new coach in 2023 Paul Wellens.

In his first competitive game in charge, Wellens underlined his ability by guiding the Saints to a historic win over Penrith Panthers to win the World Club Challenge.

That day, he did have some help from Kristian Woolf after he helped lead the club to three titles in a row and he and Wellens are set to reunite as Wellens takes on the Tonga assistant role this year.

He said on BBC Merseyside:

“I worked as Kristian’s assistant coach for three years when he came to the club. Over that period of time, we became very close colleagues but became good friends off the back of that. Not just myself and Christian but our families also.

“When he approached me a number of weeks ago now about the possibility of helping him out with Tonga. It’s something that I gave careful consideration to, but given the relationship I have with Wolfie, it’s one that excites me.

“First and foremost, getting the opportunity to work with Kristian again, but also doing something a bit different, something that’s obviously challenging when I’m working with a team that I suppose if you said to me four or five years ago, you’d be working with Tonga then I’d never believed you.”

Speaking about the response of from Saints’ Tongan players, he said:

“No, I think they’ve been well received by them. Obviously I’ve got a really close working relationship with all those boys, Agnatius (Paasi), Hop (Will Hopoate) and Konnie (Konrad Hurrell.

“I know in the time they’ve been here, I know what representing Tonga means to those blokes. So yeah, they’ve been totally fine with it. There’s not been a lot said really.

“I think what is obviously important and my priority from now to the end of the season is what happens here. The Tonga role is something that is exciting but that’s obviously a bit further down the track.”

Wellens will first and foremost be focused on lifting a fifth consecutive title.