Future stars commit to Saints including Harry Robertson

Four of St Helens' young prospects have committed to the club with mammoth new four-year deals, including rising star Harry Robertson.

Saints have secured the signatures of the talented quartet Noah Stephens, Owen Dagnall, George Whitby and Robertson - all until at least the end of the 2028 season.

This week's positive news follows on from the announcement of George Delaney’s new deal back in early January, and it is a signal of intent that this generation of Saints are being backed to be important members of our squad in the years to come.

Noah Stephens, one of the Betfred Super League’s most promising front-rowers, was the first youngster to put pen to paper this week.

The 20-year-old prop is a proud product of Saints’ Academy, having joined the club when he was just 15 years old.

Stephens’ bulldozing and bursting runs proved to be important in the Red V’s Academy Championship winning campaign in 2023. He then finished that year by putting pen to paper on his first senior contract to become a first team St Helens player.

In May 2024, he was given his chance to make his Super League and official St Helens debut, away at Castleford Tigers. Refusing to take a backward step, Stephens put on an assured display, proving he could cut it at the top level, and he has never looked back, making a further 13 appearances in his debut campaign.

As the 2024 Saints first team battled with injuries, young talents such as Stephen were staking their claim in Paul Wellens’ side. Stephens got to experience tough battles against highly experienced opposition forwards and competed fantastically, playing beyond his age.

As Saints head into the 2025 Rugby League season, Stephens continues his development with the confidence that the club backs him as an important member of our squad in the years to come.

Stephens shared his joy at staying a Saint until 2028, and has said: “I’m very, very happy! When I was younger I wouldn’t have ever thought I’d be here doing this, but I’m here to do my best; to make the most out of this opportunity I’ve been given, to make the fans happy who come and watch us every week, and to enjoy it.”

Just days later, Owen Dagnall, another proud product of the Saints Academy, signed his own four-year deal.

The 19-year-old outside back joined St Helens at the age of 14. After impressing in the Saints Scholarship, Dagnall progressed into their Under 18s team where he enjoyed fantastic success, scoring an incredible 26 tries in 19 games in the last two Academy seasons, including a score in the 2023 Academy Grand Final in which Saints were crowned Champions.

Dagnall has also featured for the Reserves where he continued his remarkable try-scoring efforts with seven tries from seven appearances. He has also earned county and international selection in both 2023 and 2024.

Last summer Dagnall made the step up into the Saints’ full-time first team environment and received his first senior squad number after selection in a 21-man squad declaration.

He pushed and competed to make his Super League debut and whilst it did not happen last season it has made him even more motivated to earn his first senior appearance in the famous Red V in 2025.

Dagnall shared his delight on his new deal and said: “It’s a great feeling to put your mind at ease about that sort of stuff, put those distractions away, and focus on my career now and what the next four years can hold for me.

“Wello [Paul Wellens] has shown a lot of faith in me from an early age and brought me into training earlier from the Academy into the First Team system as soon as I finished my A-Level studies. That was a big factor in signing on because I know Wello, Briersy [Lee Briers] and Eamon [O’Carroll] have faith in me.

"I’m just looking to repay that faith for the season.”

Yesterday, George Whitby then became the third youngster to lock in with Saints, who not only came through their Academy ranks, but is a lifelong supporter of the club.

Whitby played a significant role in the Saints Academy in the last two years, which has included the 2023 Academy Championship title victory, and in 2024 he was appointed Captain of the team. It was a huge honour for Whitby to lead the Saints out in the 2024 Academy Grand Final, in which Saints fell agonisingly short of a back-to-back title.

After finishing his A-Level studies Whitby moved into the First Team environment and one week after getting his results he earned the chance to play for Paul Wellens’ team, making his official club and Super League debut at home against Hull KR.

Despite the result, it was a special day for Whitby and his family when the young half-back scored and converted a try in front of the West Stand at the Totally Wicked Stadium, giving our supporters perhaps a glimpse to our future.

Throughout his time with the Club so far Whitby has proven himself to be a strong goal-kicker in general, registering an astonishing; 103 goals for the Academy, 37 for our Reserves team, and going back further to his Scholarship days he kicked 32 conversions.

On the back of his first professional, full-time pre-season, Whitby is eager to earn more senior match minutes, full of pride and motivation that the club believes in him to be an important part of Saints’ squad in the future.

An overjoyed Whitby commented: "It's a huge honour and privilege to represent this club for four more years. I've loved the journey so far and I'm just really happy to keep learning and keep progressing as a young player. I'm really happy that I've managed to secure my place here."

Finally, Harry Robertson, arguably one of the most promising young players in the game, has become the latest youngster to commit his long-term future to St Helens.

The versatile 19-year-old, who can play at fullback, centre, or half-back, has come through the Saints ranks, before making a memorable debut during the 2024 season, after joining our First Team ranks during that summer. 

Robertson’s story with the Saints began at the age of 14 when he joined the Club’s Scholarship programme from community team Halton Farnworth Hornets. He progressed from our Under 16s into the Under 18s, and Robertson's early performances meant he was a player to watch out for.

Across Robertson’s two years in our Under 18s, he played 20 times and scored a remarkable 24 tries, holding a key role as our young Saints topped the table and reached the Academy Grand Finals in both years. Robertson played at half-back in both finales, including the 2023 edition in which Saints became the Academy Champions.

Further opportunities to develop with our Reserves allowed Robertson to come up against some more experienced players, again, showing his try-scoring prowess with 9 appearances and 9 four-pointers scored.

International selection at the Academy level was also earned by Robertson in both 2023 and 2024, taking on France in both mid-season tests. 

Paul Wellens quickly moved Robertson into the First Team environment last summer and then in July he made his senior St Helens debut in The Derby away against Wigan Warriors, putting on a fantastic debut performance at fullback, including setting up a try for Jack Welsby. 

In his debut Super League campaign Robertson featured 9 times for the Saints, all at fullback, and he added his first official club try in an away fixture against Huddersfield Giants. 

Now at the end of his first pre-season as a full-time player, Robertson has his future locked in at the club that has not only developed him but will view him a real potential star of the Saints’ future.

Robertson said: “I’m made up, I didn’t want anything more than to sign for the club for another four years, so I am very happy. It has all gone pretty fast since making my debut, playing nine big games, and then signing my new contract, it’s gone very quickly.

“I want to just help the team in any way I can, we all know that we want to go out and win trophies, and I'll do anything to help the team. I feel like I have still got more in me, it was all a bit of a crazy experience last year, I want to get out there and feel comfortable to show what I can do.

“We have got a really tightknit group in the full-time squad. We love coming to work every day and have a big smile on our faces.”

With the ability to play across the backline and in the halves, Robertson has a whole host of senior Saints to lean on for advice and mentorship, and it's looking positive for the future stars at St Helens.

You can read the full stories, along with head coach Paul Wellens' comments, on saintsrlfc.com.