St Helens' Jack Welsby issues warning about Super League new boys London Broncos

15 February 2024 , 16:32

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St Helens' Jack Welsby, left, and London Broncos boss Mike Eccles (Image: PA)

Jack Welsby says St Helens won’t under-estimate London insisting Super League’s newcomers will be at their most dangerous on Friday.

Promoted Broncos are massive 1-3 favourites to finish bottom. With no big-name signings and a raft of part-time players, it’s easy to see why. But England star Welsby, 22, maintained: “They are not being written off at our club.

“We probably have them at the worst time when they are at their freshest and most excited. If I was in their shoes - coming up to Saints, their first game back in Super League - I'd be very excited. We’re not taking them lightly at all.”

World Club champions Saints have seen their four-year domination of Super League ended. But full-back Welsby warned: “We’ve done a lot off talking in the off-season about redefining ourselves and moving on from what’s been a historic time for the club. It’s a new period now and we need to move on.

"We have some young players who are really exciting and, we've brought in some great players like Daz Clark, Waqa Blake and Matt Whitley so it’s a new era for us. And we’re excited by it."

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Welsby, who became England's youngest-ever captain last year when featuring in the 3-0 whitewash of Tonga, is one of the favourites to win the Steve Prescott Man of Steel for the first time this season.

He gave his club and Super League boost by turning down NRL interest to sign a bumper new four-year deal with Paul Wellens' side before Christmas. And with his future settled, Welsby admitted: I was glad when it was done.

St Helens' Jack Welsby celebrates a try with Curtis Sironen (PA)

"That’s the most I've ever had to think about a contract. Normally I just say 'where do you want me to sign?' Whereas this time it was a bit more of a toss-up. Once I got down to knowing I wanted to be at St Helens, it was about getting it over the line and right for both parties. Now I can’t wait to play rugby again."

And, as IMG continue to try and build Super League, he's excited to see England team-mate Tom Burgess returning from NRL's South Sydney to join Huddersfield in 2025. Welsby conceded: " It surprised me, to be fair. I didn’t see him going to Huddersfield. But he’s a Yorkshire lad.

"It’ll be great to see Tom back in Super League. He’ll be a handful, that’s for sure. That’s what he adds for England. Doing that for Huddersfield, he’ll make them really strong competitors. That just adds to some absolutely fantastic players like Jake Connor and Tui Lolohea. Put a superstar like Tom Burgess in there and that makes them a real threat in 2025."

David Craven