Delaney to stay at Saints until 2028

St Helens have announced that George Delaney will remain with the Club until at least the end of the 2028 season after agreeing to a new four-year contract.

The 20-year-old is a proud product of the Saints Academy having come through their Scholarship Under 16s and Under 18s programme to make his senior First Team debut in 2022, the same year he received the St Helens’ Under 18s Player of the Year Award.

Proving himself to be ready as a Super League regular, 2023 and 2024 were breakthrough seasons for the former Halton Farnworth Hornets junior. He was awarded St Helens’ Young Player of the Year for his remarkable on-field efforts in back-to-back years.

In 2023, unphased by not being a member of the travelling party that went to Australia to win the World Club Challenge, Delaney was determined to make his first full-time year as a professional count, grabbing the chance to play on dual registration with Swinton Lions and impressing highly.

He proved himself as one of the most promising young forwards in the game when the Saints were suffering from injuries, and he did not take a backward step. Taking his opportunity to consistently battle against seasoned middle men, he went on to register 20 appearances in 2023.

In 2024, Delaney continued developing as an impressive young prop forward, and his stock has kept rising. During the summer he was called into the senior England camp for the mid-season international trip to France, he would be named the 18th player, falling short of earning a first appearance for his country.

Impressing more and more, Delaney finished the year by being on the shortlist for Super League’s Young Player of the Year.

Now, ahead of the 2025 season kicking off, Saints’ homegrown talent will remain in the famous Red V kit until at least the end of the 2028 season.

George Delaney excitedly told saintsrlfc.com: “I’m over the moon to get it done, it just makes me excited, really. I've loved the first two years that I've been in the First Team and have been very lucky getting a handful of games every year. I’ve fit into the group really well and I'm not just a young kid who is quite quiet anymore.

“I've watched the success that this club has had and I'm very confident we're going to have a lot of success in the future and that’s why I have decided to sign again.

“Coming through the Academy system, you know what it feels like to pull that jersey on, how special it is. Going through Scholars and then all the way up to First Team – it means a lot.

“They get it into you early at this club, Saints are very demanding and want to be in finals. Missing out the last two years they have been very disappointing seasons for us to not have a trophy. Hopefully, this year we get some silverware at the end of it and make some memories.”

Another goal of Delaney's will be to receive his first senior England cap, after coming so close to earning it in 2024:

“I loved the England camp and the experience of it, and unfortunately, I didn't get my debut, I got to see how special it was for the other lads that did debut with some of their family coming in and presenting them with a shirt. So, that is definitely a goal of mine for the next few years.”

Head Coach Paul Wellens shared the Club’s delight to be keeping one of Super League’s hottest young talents until at least 2028, and added:

“There are very few front rowers in the game who do what George Delaney has done at his age; to have nearly 50 senior match appearances before turning 21 is incredible, particularly given the position George plays in as well.

“It is a testament to him, his hard work, his dedication, the way he looks after himself, he is as hardworking and diligent as a professional that you will find.

“It has been a steep rise for George in the last couple of years. Once he got the opportunity to play in the First Team he took the chance with both hands, did it impressively, and showed he belongs at this level.

“George has continued to get better week in and week out, year in and year out too, and we are really excited he has chosen to continue developing as a player here longer term.

“It is a huge coup for us as a Club to keep hold of someone like George who is so young and so good, and for him to feel that our environment will remain the best for him to bring out his best. I know he enjoys being here, and his stature within the group has continued to rise, and we all think very highly of him.”