St Helens played a significant role in revitalizing the Super League. Prior to the start of their season, a fan from southern England, sporting the team’s colors, expressed his excitement at visiting Langtree Park for the first time. Alongside 14,000 St Helens supporters, he joined in the fervor, contributing to a record-breaking opening round attendance of 76,752.
The atmosphere at Langtree Park was electric, with the West Stand terrace filling up well before the match against London Broncos, which St Helens won 40-4. The event featured a pre-match light show, fireworks, and continuous music, sometimes overlapping with the game itself. This atmosphere embodied the vision set by IMG, who had taken charge of Super League with the aim of elevating it to new heights, including the aspiration of having the top 12 clubs in the league next year.
When St Helens return home after their second game of the season, against Huddersfield on Saturday, they will no longer hold the title of world champions. Saints fans are hoping the Penrith Panthers will take the crown from Wigan, who face off at a sold-out DW Stadium on Saturday night. It has been 16 months since St Helens last won a domestic trophy, and the pressure to reclaim silverware is palpable, weighing heavily on the team.
James Bell, a forward for St Helens, acknowledges the chatter about their imminent loss of the world champion status but sees it as motivation. He believes that losing something only makes you hungrier to regain it, making it a goal for the team to strive for.
Coach Paul Wellens welcomes the pressure and has made winter signings of three experienced internationals, indicating a strategic move to sustain the team’s success by replacing core players without expanding the squad. The retirement of James Roby, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, and Will Hopoate, who were deemed past their prime, has been offset by the arrival of Daryl Clark, Matt Whitley, and Waqa Blake, strengthening the team.
In their opening game, attention was on the new signings, with Whitley making a significant impact in the second half and Clark delivering a standout performance at hooker. While the replacements may have seemed like straightforward swaps on paper, the changes have been more significant on the field.
Bell admits that playing with Clark has required adjustment, as Clark’s style differs greatly from Roby’s. Clark’s preference for attacking play and quick, flat passes requires the team to adapt their game, but Bell believes that as they become more accustomed to Clark’s style, their performance will improve.
Clark, Whitley, and Blake brought a wealth of experience to the field with a combined total of 700 Super League and NRL appearances, contrasting with eight London players who were making their debut at this level. London was also hampered by the absence of six potential starters due to injury. The disparity between the teams was evident when, four minutes before halftime, four England players effortlessly passed the ball among themselves without being tackled, resulting in a 20-0 lead.
Despite facing what seemed like an inevitable defeat, London deserves credit for turning the game into a gritty contest. They will need to maintain this resilience when they face the Grand Finalists, Catalans Dragons, at Wimbledon on Friday night. For St Helens, the victory over a weakened Broncos team, who finished fifth in the Championship last season, revealed little. The true test will come against Huddersfield, who secured an impressive win against Leigh in round one.
Both St Helens and London showcased the strength of their development systems, an aspect currently not rewarded by IMG. Broncos fielded nine academy graduates, while Saints fielded 11, including Whitley, who made his long-awaited first-team debut for St Helens a decade after being released by the club.
Bell stood out for St Helens, excelling at loose forward in the absence of the injured England lock Morgan Knowles. The dynamic Kiwi adds speed and agility to the middle of the line, with his deft handling and strong tackling. Despite his relatively small stature (97kg and 180cm tall), Bell’s playing style is likened to Mike Tyson’s aggression, contrasting with Walmsley’s more imposing presence. At 29, Bell is currently in the prime of his rugby career.
Bell first gained attention in the UK for his robust defense during Scotland’s challenging 2017 World Cup campaign. After a successful spell with Toulouse in the Championship, he moved to Leigh for Super League, where he impressed despite the team’s struggles, catching the eye of the champions.
Reflecting on his journey, Bell shared, “I can probably give London a bit of hope. It’s early days but I was in a similar position at Leigh – a new team coming into the comp,” recalling his experience with Leigh in the 2021 season.
Wellens has remarkably overseen Bell’s evolution from a dependable fringe player to a regular starter. “Over the last year, Wello has given me opportunities to showcase my skills,” says Bell. “Having that support from a coach has boosted my confidence, and this environment brings out the best in me. Before St Helens, I had only ever played loose forward throughout my career, but Morgan Knowles, one of the competition’s best, occupies that position here. It was both a blessing and a curse: I had to adapt and find my place in the team in other roles. This challenge has pushed me to improve, which I needed. I feel comfortable playing anywhere. I just enjoy playing rugby.”
Despite his cheerful demeanor, Bell exudes strength. “Since I was young, I’ve always wanted to be on the field and have fun. That mindset still drives me today. I love it. Training has never felt like a chore. Once I’m on the field, I’m in my element. It’s always enjoyable.”
For St Helens, watching Wigan become world champions would be far from enjoyable, even if they are once again leading the Super League standings by then.
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