THE signing of full back Shannon McDonnell should take the pressure off needing to rush the team’s indomitable warrior Paul Wellens back.

The former skipper has been struggling with his hip and has already had some surgery to try and ease the problem.

Although not fit, the 35-year-old warrior is still itching to be involved. He spent Friday night taking the coach’s messages through a headset on the touchline alongside Jamahl Lolesi.

Coach Keiron Cunningham issued a glowing tribute to Wellens’ sheer determination to push his body to try and get back out there.

He said: “For me he is one of the greatest players to have pulled on a Saints shirt and that he epitomises what every player should feel about St Helens rugby league club.

“He is running around on one leg – on Good Friday he could not even walk and at half time I felt like crying for him.

“I told him he couldn’t go out out but he was determined he could and he even tried.

“Even though he has had surgery he is adamant that he can get out there again. I don’t know whether he will or he won’t but it won’t be for the lack of trying.

“He wants to play every week. He is a fan and just to have him around the place breeds success.

“But we have the luxury now because we have Shannon in place and we are comfortable in that position for the time being.

“We have also promoted Matty Fleming so know we have another outside back.”

Meanwhile Cunningham has been in touch with Lance Hohaia’s after his decision to retire due to “recurrent concussion-type symptoms”.

Cunningham said: “He seems ok. I spoke to him before he announced he was going to leave.

“He’s a bit disappointed that he’s let the team down but he seems fine. He made his decision a long time ago I think in his head.

“It’s left a massive void, because Lance was very versatile in what he could do.”