THE one silver lining within the dark, dismal injury cloud that hung over Saints throughout the course of 2024 was the opportunities it afforded a handful of the younger players to break into the first team panel.
It meant that Paul Wellens, for the first time since becoming head coach, was able to hand debuts to players that had come up through the junior ranks.
And some of those played significantly more games than they will have dreamt at the start of the campaign – and will now have a full off season to attack next term.
Prop Noah Stephens, who was the first of the cohort to force his way into the reckoning, enthusing the team on debut at Castleford in May.
The recently turned 20-year-old prop featured in 14 games last season, just one fewer than Alex Walmsley.
Stephens was considered unlucky to have missed out in the play-offs after being Saints most effective middle in the bruising game at Leigh in last of the regular rounds.
Expect Stephens to pushing his more senior colleagues next term, as he picks up more minutes and adjusts to the rigours of open age top-flight rugby league.
Also catching the eye, for different reasons, was the fleet-footed 18-year-old Harry Robertson who slotted in at full back when injuries struck out – at various times – Jack Welsby and Lewis Dodd.
He played nine times, scoring one try but made way when Saints’ more experienced players returned at the back end of the year.
Elsewhere on the park hooker Jake Burns played 10 times, Jonny Vaughan featured on eight occasions and there was a try on debut for teenage scrum half George Whitby.
Whitby had an outstanding season with the Academy and the Reserves and brings a really varied kicking game to the table, and certainly knows how to boom a penalty into touch.
Much focus will be on the two talented pivots and how they kick on next year, and Wellens had previously indicated that Robertson in particular may find himself on a similar journey as Jack Welsby who had to play wing and centre before finally nailing down a spot at 1 or 6.
Wellens’ message to the youngsters, some of whom will be having their first pre-season camp with the seniors, is to challenge for those first team chances.
He said: “I want those young players to be really trying to force their way into the team.
“It was really important that they were in the stand at the Warrington game and really good for them to see a game of that intensity.
“That's the level that they're going need to get to if you want to play in this team consistently.
“They are champing at the bit, they're excited, but also they are all the different stages and have got to look to improve and get better and be able to cope in those environments to get consistent opportunity.”
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