St Helens: Paul Rowley confirmed as new head coach on three-year contract following departure of Paul Wellens | Rugby League News
Paul Rowley has been confirmed as the new head coach of St Helens on a three-year contract.
The 50-year-old, who most recently managed the financially troubled Salford Red Devils between 2022 and 2025, replaces Paul Wellens as Saints boss after the latter’s contract was not renewed by the Super League club.
Former England international Rowley has also been in charge of Leigh and Toronto.
“It is a great privilege to join St Helens and join a strong and proven environment and organisation,” Rowley said.
“It seems like an exciting challenge, different in many ways, and I will be looking to step in to put my own stamp on things with positive change and have a real influence.
“I come in with an open mind and new ideas, but I want to learn about everyone involved in the club – and I mean everyone, from the boardroom, all the staff and the supporters. Then I will back up my judgment and experience, looking to progress, move forward and ultimately win things.
“Saints have set the benchmark for years in physical battle. I want to work with that foundation, keep it, add more options in attack and keep teams guessing. Being one of the best teams in Super League means you have to keep evolving, and with the way I want to play, I think the St Helens defense will allow me to add another layer to what Saints do very well.
“It’s a team that’s growing with talented young players who are standing out, who I’m really excited to work with and who we’ll be patient with. It’s something I’m sure will continue to be a cornerstone of St Helens in the future, and wanting to get the best out of them is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Chairman Eamonn McManus added: “We warmly welcome Paul Rowley as our new head coach. He is both experienced and talented, and we believe he is now ready to coach a top club such as St Helens.
“He is well aware of our goals and ambitions, and we consider him capable of achieving them.
“I’m sure our fans will support him as we look to return to the top of the Super League competition. We wish him every success.”
St Helens part ways with Wellens after deciding not to renew his contract
The decision to part ways with Wellens came after the Saints’ Super League play-off semi-final defeat to Hull KR, with their season then over and Wellens’ contract subsequently terminated.
Wellens was informed by his boyhood club that they would not continue with him in charge and would go in a different direction.
McManus said at the time: “Paul’s contribution to the history of our club has been second to none.
“As a player, he won every honor available in our sport and was at the epicenter of our incredible success during his 17-year playing career with the Saints.
“Who can ever forget his reaction on the pitch as captain at the end of our 2014 Grand Final victory over Wigan. It embodied his dedication to the Saints and encapsulated his lifelong passion and dedication to our club and this city.
“As head coach, he began his career with the greatest feat in our 150-plus year history when he led us to victory against the Penrith Panthers to win the World Club Challenge on Australian soil in 2023.
“Since then, he has dedicated his life in every way to the club as head coach. He has always done so with professionalism, dignity and class. He has been a supreme ambassador for our club and our sport.
“So this has been the most difficult decision to make, but we have now decided to move in a new direction and appoint a new head coach. We now begin that search.
“Paul will always be part of the fabric of our club and will always be warmly welcomed by everyone at all times. We wish him every success in his future career and wish him and his family all the best.”
Wellens added: “Following a meeting with the club, I have been informed that they will be looking to appoint a new head coach for the 2026 season.
“While I am understandably disappointed that my time at the club is coming to an end, I also respect this decision and would like to thank Eamonn for his honesty in what I know would have been an extremely difficult conversation. We have developed a close working relationship over almost 25 years, and despite the difficult nature of such discussions, our friendship remains intact.
