GRAND Final hero Jack Welsby has put his last-gasp match winner to one side and knuckled down to making even more great memories in the red vee.
The former England Academy international, who turned 20 on Wednesday, does not expect the rest of his career to simply fall into his lap after being central to one of the great moments of Super League.
Rather he is keen to maintain his strong work ethic, allied with his talent and versatility, to try and secure as many opportunities in the Saints 17 for the year ahead.
Welsby, who played full back, wing and stand off last year, snatched the chance of playing left centre when Mark Percival was ruled out.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Welsby said: “It was good to get something like that in my first Grand Final.
“It could have been a career defining moment but because I am so young it has only been a small step so far.
“I spoke with Woolfy and Wello – and we agreed that the Grand Final try can’t define my career.
“After the Grand Final we had our end of season reflection and I said I really want to kick on for next year and all the attention turns to that and me being the best player I can be in every way shape or form.
“That try is not the end, it is only the start for me with what I want to achieve.
“I have a lot of rugby ahead of me and want that to be just one of the highlights in my highlight reel and be remembered for many more special moments.
“I am looking forward to spending many more years here and winning more comps.”
With Percival back in the fold after injury, Lachlan Coote solid at full back and real depth in the halves, Welsby has plenty to do to secure a start.
But he has enough in his locker to keep pushing.
“My targets this year are to keep improving and to get as many games under my belt.
“Obviously there is a lot of talent in front of me in every position I am looking at playing, but I am looking forward to keep pushing those boys and that will make us all better by playing the best we can,” he said.
Welsby’s versatility has made him an excellent player to have in the 17 - and even when at full strength, he has found himself as the number 14.
He is not stressing about nailing down a specific position - but accepts that time may come.
“Like someone like Stefan Ratchford, I am regularly being told that I need to nail down a position.
“But I am only young – the more learning I can do in each position the better.
“I have the likes of Lachlan Coote at full back, Mark Percival and Kev Naiqama in the centres, Jonny and Theo in the halves with Lewis Dodd coming through.
“There is so much competition for places that this is going to make me a better player in the future.
“I have got a lot of time to take away as much of the tools they have in my time.
“That is the main conversation I have had with Woolfy.
“I will be versatile for the rest of my career, but at some point I will have to lock down a position.
“But at this moment in time, taking away as much as I can from these international players is the best thing I can do,” he said.
Pictures: Bernard Platt and SWpix.com
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