WITH St Helens parting ways with head coach Paul Wellens, the next question on everyone’s lips is: who will take over?
Wellens had been in charge of the Merseyside club for three seasons, winning the World Club Challenge barely months into his new position.
However, failing to make either the Challenge Cup Final or Super League Grand Final has seen the Saints hierarchy decide to go in another direction. But which direction could that be?
Paul Rowley
The obvious name to go for is Salford Red Devils boss Paul Rowley. The Englishman’s future is currently up in the air following Salford’s continued financial problems and whilst he was expected to take up the director of rugby role at the end of 2025, Rowley’s future isn’t exactly clear cut. St Helens need a head coach to inspire their next generation of young stars coming through and Rowley is the perfect candidate. There’s no getting away from the fact that he performed miracles at Salford this campaign with all limbs tied behind his back, and Rowley’s stock just continues to rise.
Eamon O’Carroll
It’s no secret that Eamon O’Carroll is being primed for a head coaching job in Super League sooner rather than later. The former Bradford Bulls boss has had assistant coaching roles at both Catalans Dragons and now St Helens, with the potential for him to step into Paul Wellens’ shoes quite large. It could be a gamble for Saints given the fact that O’Carroll has not held a permanent top-flight number one role yet, but coaches have to start somewhere and O’Carroll did a fine job at Bradford in the second tier.
Lee Briers
The second of Paul Wellens’ assistants, Lee Briers is perhaps ahead of Eamon O’Carroll in the pecking order for a Super League job given his success as Wigan Warriors’ number two under Matt Peet and his time at the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL. Briers said last year that he wasn’t ready to take over a role as head coach of a Super League club, but could that have changed having been alongside Wellens in 2025? It’s fair to say that it wouldn’t be the most shock appointment given how high Briers’ stock is.
Jim Lenihan
Was recently linked with the Castleford Tigers head coaching position following the sacking of Danny McGuire, Jim Lenihan has left his position as Gold Coast Titans assistant with new boss Josh Hannay seeking to swing the axe at the Queensland club following another disappointing campaign. The 52-year-old joined the Titans in 2020 after winning the Queensland Cup with the Burleigh Bears in 2016 and 2019.
Steve McNamara
Out of a job since being axed by Catalans Dragons midway through the 2025 season, Steve McNamara is ready for the next task. And ensuring that St Helens are among the silverware hunters from 2026 and beyond could be one of his toughest challenges yet. What McNamara did with Catalans is nothing short of miraculous, turning the French side from relegation candidates to Challenge Cup winners and Super League Grand Final runners-up in a short space of time.