St Helens Turmoil

[Damien]

All doesn't seem well at St Helens with Mike Rush now set to leave. This being on the back of Jon Wilkins rant last night and the departures of Wellens and Roby last season:

Mike Rush, St Helens’ long-serving CEO, is leaving the club.

After almost 27 years at the club in a variety of roles, Rush’s time at the club has come to an end. Sources have indicated to Love Rugby League that Saints will make an announcement on his exit in the coming days.

Starting as an executive development manager and ending with a 13-year stint as CEO of the club, Rush has been credited for being one of Super League’s best managers of the salary cap, overseeing matters during the club’s historic period when they won four Super League titles in a row, as well as the World Club Challenge.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/st-helens-mike-rush-exit

[Josef K]

Rush can be an arrogant ###### at times. 

[Tommygilf]

Seems a result of frustration with their decline over the past 2 years (and by all accounts Friday night too). Probably too many figures with a lot of clout in the St Helens world (including the former coach), not happy with how the club has been ran of late.

[Dave T]

Never really struck me as an actual CEO of the Saints business.

[Gooleboy]

Nah. Come over to Feath or Halifax to see real turmoil!

[Click]

They also are going to have to find a new stadium sponsor I imagine

[GeordieSaint]

I am a very happy Rush is leaving. 

[Exiled Wiganer]

The club has had an extraordinarily successful period in the time he has been involved there. He can leave with his head high. 
 

I think the biggest challenge they face is life after Cunningham and Roby. They gave them a 20 year period of stability and continuity of excellence in everything they did every day. There is no obvious successor in their squad that I can see. 

[The Future is League]

30 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

I am a very happy Rush is leaving. 

why?

[Waynebennettswinger]

I always felt that Rush was very happy to take plenty of credit when things went well (and in fairness over his time plenty did go well) but as alluded to he comes across as very arrogant and someone who hides behind others when things aren’t going well. There a lot of people who won’t miss him.

Edited February 15 by Waynebennettswinger

[Eddie]

On 15/02/2026 at 01:02, Click said:

They also are going to have to find a new stadium sponsor I imagine

Why? Though I’ll rejoice at the day their stadium has a sensible name again. 

[Click]

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

Why? Though I’ll rejoice at the day their stadium has a sensible name again. 

They're selling the business: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/14/brewdog-could-be-broken-up-as-craft-beer-business-put-up-for-sale

So I doubt they'll want to continue sponsorship outlays

[Agbrigg]

I heard Martin Vickers is in the running for the job

[JohnM]

It'll be reet. Its nothing, compared to losing Welsby for what looks like the whole season.

[Alffi 7]

Karl Fitzpatrick is available…

[Loiner]

Didn't realise Roby had left I missed that, what happened there thought he was set for life? 

[Josef K]

16 hours ago, Loiner said:

Didn't realise Roby had left I missed that, what happened there thought he was set for life? 

When he was at Saints i didn’t know what he did off the pitch. What i would see of him he’d come onto the pitch put some cones down, spin the ball a few times, wave to the fans who sang his name, then walk off.
The club needed a big clear out of all the old boys hanging around. He was one of the best players i have ever seen in a Saints shirt, although the club shouldn’t have given him that extra year to carry on playing. 

[Loiner]

2 hours ago, Josef K said:

When he was at Saints i didn’t know what he did off the pitch. What i would see of him he’d come onto the pitch put some cones down, spin the ball a few times, wave to the fans who sang his name, then walk off.
The club needed a big clear out of all the old boys hanging around. He was one of the best players i have ever seen in a Saints shirt, although the club shouldn’t have given him that extra year to carry on playing. 

Thanks for that, you can't argue the guys a legend but not all great players make good coaches etc. Garry Schofield being the perfect example.

[headtackle]

Saints have found jobs for too many "old boys" over the years and as we rebuild having a team with no emotional connections should be for the best.

 

[Damien]

Saints attack Wilkin's comments:

St.Helens R.F.C. strongly disagrees with and objects to certain comments made by Jon Wilkin during his live TV punditry on Sky Sports after the Club's first Betfred Super League match of the season against Warrington Wolves on Friday, 13th February 2026.

The comments made by Jon in relation to dealings with former Head Coach Paul Wellens and current player Mark Percival are inaccurate and are categorically refuted by the Club.

They were fundamentally incorrect and are damaging to the name, professional reputation and business of St.Helens R.F.C., one of the most valuable brands and businesses in world rugby league. We reserve our position on the matter.

It is only after careful consideration and having taken professional advice that the Club has reluctantly decided to make this announcement, particularly given Jon’s previous long and distinguished career as a player and as a former captain of the Club. We also deeply value our longstanding professional relationship with Sky Sports.

https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2026/02/25/st-helens-appalled-by-jon-wilkins-post-match-comments/

[Dave T]

Doesn't really say anything does it?

[Just Browny]

They weren't sure if they disagreed for almost two weeks.

[Hopie]

1 hour ago, Dave T said:

Doesn't really say anything does it?

Even the club is sick of his "punditry" and constant whinging?

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

2 hours ago, Dave T said:

Doesn't really say anything does it?

You're right, Dave, it doesn't say much.  It also says that they 'refute' what Jon Wilkin has said, but don't show us how they have done that and in what context, public or private.  At this stage, to the outside world at least, they have simply denied what Wilkin said.  'To deny' and 'to refute' mean different things, but not everybody may know that and 'refute' can sound the more impressive word!

[Coggo]

3 hours ago, Damien said:

Saints attack Wilkin's comments:

St.Helens R.F.C. strongly disagrees with and objects to certain comments made by Jon Wilkin during his live TV punditry on Sky Sports after the Club's first Betfred Super League match of the season against Warrington Wolves on Friday, 13th February 2026.

The comments made by Jon in relation to dealings with former Head Coach Paul Wellens and current player Mark Percival are inaccurate and are categorically refuted by the Club.

They were fundamentally incorrect and are damaging to the name, professional reputation and business of St.Helens R.F.C., one of the most valuable brands and businesses in world rugby league. We reserve our position on the matter.

It is only after careful consideration and having taken professional advice that the Club has reluctantly decided to make this announcement, particularly given Jon’s previous long and distinguished career as a player and as a former captain of the Club. We also deeply value our longstanding professional relationship with Sky Sports.

https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2026/02/25/st-helens-appalled-by-jon-wilkins-post-match-comments/

That’s a rather thin-skinned, Derek Beaumont type statement. Doth protest too much etc.