KRISTIAN Woolf expects the younger players in the Saints squad to keep pushing on this year, putting pressure on the established 13 – and creating a healthy competition.

Although the nature of Super League this year, with its 25 rounds plus knockouts crammed between March and October, will mean players will get a chance through rotation – some of those are eager to seize an opportunity as soon as they can.

Last year Jack Welsby grabbed the headlines with his match-winner in the Grand Final, and the 20-year-old will again be pressing for a start.

As too will centre Josh Simm, who memorably grabbed a hat-trick against Leeds, and crafty number seven Lewis Dodd showed nice touches when he finally took his Super League bow.

Most of the other young guns were restricted to a crack in the Salford game – and in likelihood would have had further run-outs before the end had the league programme not been halted at 17 games.

They will get another opportunity this year.

Woolf said: “The blokes who put their hands up last year will be expected to play a little more footy and a bigger role when they do play games.

“Jack Welsby, with his success last year, has done exactly what we hoped he do after that success and come back really impressively in the pre-season and trained with a real confidence.

“I would expect him to have an impact on the team again and could put Lewis Dodd and Josh Simm in a similar boat.

“They too have come back impressively and shown some improvement and maturity in the way they have gone about training and we will see that in games as well.

“The way Jack is training and the way he played last year when he took his opportunities means he is is putting on pressure on other players to be at their best and saying that he wants to be part of the team.

“The good thing about Jack is that he has versatility about him – he can play full back wing, centre and five eighth.

“It means that if he’s not in the starting 13 he can play a role as a 14 – these are things we can work out.

“It is a real positive for our squad that we have that competition and players knocking on the door keeps everyone honest.”

One player singled out by Woolf is former Blackbrook and Lancashire Academy back row Jake Wingfield, who made his debut off the bench last season.

Woolf said: “One guy who had one opportunity last year, and who has impressed me so far, is Jake Wingfield.

“He has come off a tough injury period – 16 months out of playing.

“He played against Salford last year and was really good in that game and has gone from strength to strength. I expect him to play more footy for us.”