ALTHOUGH no new player is ever guaranteed a starting spot, with the signing of speedster of Lewis Murphy it finally feels like Saints have got a like-for-like replacement for Regan Grace after a gap of two seasons.

Since the popular Welshman left the club for rugby union in 2022, Saints have tried a number of options on the left wing with Will Hopoate, Jon Bennison, Tee Ritson and Waqa Blake all having stints there – without any of them consistently nailing the spot.

(Image: Manuel Blondeau/SWpix.com)

That opportunity is now presented to the 22-year-old former Wakefield flier on his return to England after a stint with the Sydney Roosters club.

Wellens was delighted to have secured the wingman, who famously scored four tries on his last appearance at Totally Wicked Stadium in 2022.

The Saints boss said: “Lewis, as we have already found out ourselves, is an exciting young player – someone who we have had a close eye on for some time and obviously when the opportunity came available to bring him in, it was a no-brainer on our part.

“He's an exciting young player, he’s got plenty of speed, he’s wonderful finisher and we are confident he can be a great success at the club.”

Wellens again re-iterated that it is not the first time they have expressed an interest, but seemingly last time the lure of Australia proved too great.

He said: “We did have a look at him previously when we found out Regan Grace was leaving and he was someone who came into the conversation at that point then he got an opportunity in the NRL.

“Now he is just desperate to get back playing regularly so we are hoping he can do that with us.

“For Lewis is about coming over, it's about working really hard and competing for a place in the team because it's not an easy team to get in to so he is going to have to work really hard, as are a number of players.

“There will be a real competition for places, particularly in the outside backs when you look at next year’s squad.

"It's good for myself as coach to have a number of options, but I am delighted to be able to add someone of the quality of Lewis to the squad.

“The key thing is we are always looking to add depth and strength to our squad.”

So far for 2025 Saints have signed Brisbane’s nippy Tristan Sailor, who can play either 1 or 6, and North Queensland Cowboys prolific try scoring wing Kyle Feldt.

Given the possibility, edging towards probability, that there may be some departures from the trio of off-contract quota players then the chances are that Saints may be ready to do more business on the recruitment front.

There has yet been no announcement on whether Waqa Blake, Konrad Hurrell and Sione Mata’utia are staying or going – but any departures have traditionally been made public in time for the last home game of the regular season.

The longer it has gone on without a positive announcement - particularly where Mata'utia is concerned - tends to give the impression that the player departure is the likelier outcome. But that is pure speculation and we will wait an announcement.

Although Saints are keen to promote youth from within, any departures from that quota trio would leave a vacancy in the centres - and there is no shortage of off-contract overseas players being touted to fill that slot.

There is plenty still to happen, and Saints still have a list of homegrown off-contract whose retention is yet to be announced, but Wellens hinted at potential further recruitment.

“There's still a couple of things up in the air there, so it will depend on how things pan out in the next few weeks with what else we look to do.

“There is potential that we can still add further to the squad.

“But again, that's based on the number other things that have yet to be decided,” Wellens said.