St Helens miss Super League play-offs after seventh-place finish

St Helens have missed the Super League play-offs for the first time after finishing seventh in the 2026 season, a result Sky Sports describes as the club’s worst-ever finish.

The club’s decline follows a period of sustained success from 2019, when St Helens won multiple Super League titles, a Challenge Cup, a League Leaders’ Shield and the 2023 World Club Challenge. Sky Sports’ assessment is that the squad was not sufficiently refreshed as senior players moved into their 30s and became more expensive under the salary cap.

Across three seasons under Paul Wellens, St Helens made 11 signings to replace a number of important departures, including Regan Grace, James Roby, Will Hopoate, Tommy Makinson, Lewis Dodd and Sione Mata’utia. The recruitment strategy was previously described by former chief executive Mike Rush as “Moneyball”, but Sky Sports reports that the replacements did not consistently match the players who left.

Injuries further exposed the squad’s limitations. Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival managed 14 appearances between them in 2026, while captain Matty Lees was injured early in the season. Morgan Knowles also left for the NRL, reducing the club’s experience and defensive strength.

St Helens replaced Wellens with Paul Rowley on a three-year deal, but Rowley was dismissed before Round 20 in July after less than a season. The extent to which his tenure influenced the final result remains unclear, given the injury toll and reported difficulties embedding his systems.

Kevin Walters, the Australia head coach, has now taken charge on a three-year deal. Sky Sports reports signals that St Helens may increase spending and pursue major signings, although no transactions have been confirmed. The club’s next decision will be whether Walters can restore competitiveness through recruitment and squad renewal.