Betfred Super League 2026: Shackles off for Saints in bid to end trophy drought

St Helens approach the 2026 Betfred Super League season with a new head coach and a renewed vision after going three years without a major trophy.

The Red Vee were the dominant force when collecting four straight league titles between 2019 and 2022, but under Paul Wellens the 2023 world champs became a tough watch at times as their attacking intent waned.

So new coach Paul Rowley will be asked to bring a flowing style back to the Saints this term, and the former Salford Red Devils and Wigan Warriors half-back Jackson Hastings promises to add an element of that after arriving in the off-season from the Newcastle Knights.

“The emphasis on what the past couple of years has been for St Helens, it probably hasn't been attacking enough,” Hastings tells The Sportsman Rugby League, in association with Betfred.

“Obviously they were a great defensive side, they built the club’s history on being a really tough defensive side, but probably chancing our arm will be something that we're going to do a lot more than in the last couple of years.”

Hastings has previously worked with Rowley at Salford, where the 50-year-old was an assistant coach when Hastings was turning in Man of Steel-winning performances for the Red Devils in 2019.

“I know the way Rowls wants to play, and I’ve known him for a good six or seven-year period,” Hastings adds.

“I’ve played against sides he’s coached, and I’ve been in sides he’s been a part of the coaching staff in, so I understand his philosophies and his ethos, and what he expects out of a player.

“Rowls wasn’t the greatest player, as he would say – that’s not me saying it, but he was always tough and that’s how his sides have always been coached.

“The shackles are off, and backing your ability and backing your skills, so whether that leads to 40 points a game or 10, there will certainly be an element of perceived risk to the public but not risk to us.

“We work on all scenarios, we work on our skill daily, as every club does. We work on moving the ball of our own try line and on the opposition’s try line.

“So there's no risk for us involved, it's just a matter of whether we’re on on the day and we nail our skill. But we’ll certainly be looking to score points, that’s for sure.”

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Another new addition is middle forward David Klemmer, who arrives at the Brewdog Stadium off the back of a 13-year NRL stint with the Canterbury Bulldogs, Newcastle Knights, Wests Tigers and St George-Illawarra Dragons.

“Obviously following rugby league for a long time I knew about the Super league and St Helens and the rich history they have,” Klemmer tells The Sportsman. “It’s very appealing and I’m very excited to don the colours and move my family over here and get amongst it.”

Saints have been hit on the eve of the league season with the news that prop forward Matty Lees will miss the next 12 weeks through injury.

But Lees remains clear on what the objective is when you’re a St Helens player.

“We want to push to win trophies at this club, and we have done, but the last few years we’ve fallen short.

“Looking at what Hull KR did last year, we’re looking to chase them. What they achieved is absolutely incredible, but if we can do that ourselves we’d be made up with that.

“We’ll be going for every trophy this year.”

The Saints begin their Betfred Super League assault on Friday night with a local derby away to the Warrington Wolves.

Rowley’s side are 7/1 to win the Grand Final at Old Trafford in October, and at the same price they can be back to win the Betfred Challenge Cup final in May.

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