Ahead of the 2025 season, we’ve looked at three St Helens players who could be surprise packages in Super League.
The Red Vee had a difficult season in 2024 with injuries tearing through the first team and resulting in periods of poor form, including a mid-season run that saw the club lose five consecutive games.
That mini collapse almost cost the club play-offs as well but Paul Wellens’ side managed to sneak into sixth before losing in devastating fashion to Warrington Wolves in the first round.
With new coaches and new signings arriving for 2025, there are high hopes that the Red Vee can return to their trophy-winning ways with 2024 marking the first year since 2017 that the club did not lift silverware.
We’ve picked out three players who could be surprise packages in the upcoming 2025 season by either taking Super League by storm or simply making a far larger impact than some would expect.
Three St Helens players who could be surprise packages in 2025
Noah Stephens
The young prop only debuted in 2024 but would make 14 appearances – highlighting how injuries impacted the Saints’ pack. However, Stephens stepped up to the task admirably and was one of the club’s breakout stars.
In what will be his second season, expect the 20-year-old prop to make far more of an impact, especially after being noted for his improvement and ambition by Dream Team prop and England international Matty Lees earlier this pre-season.
Jonny Vaughan
The young centre was named England Academy captain in 2023 and made the move to the St Helens first team for the 2024 season – a campaign in which he made eight Super League appearances as a result of Saints’ injury-hit season. He also won the Player of the Match award in the Reserves Grand Final.
During those eight Super League appearances, Vaughan impressed and he’s well-positioned to get more games in 2025 considering that only Mark Percival, Ben Davies and Konrad Hurrell stand in front of him in the pecking order. Opportunities will surely come his way and he’s touted to grasp them with both hands.
Lewis Murphy
Whilst we expect Stephens and Vaughan to play prominent roles either form the bench or as a result of rotation and injuries, Lewis Murphy could be one of the best in his position in Super League. It seems likely that he will compete with Jon Bennison for the starting spot with Kyle Feldt on the other wing.
If Muprhy hits the ground running in pre-season then he could be a force to be reckoned with in 2025. After a year Down Under, Murphy could start from where he finished which was as one of the competition’s most exciting young wingers. He also has good history at the Totally Wicked Stadium – bagging four tries for Wakefield at the ground in 2022.
