There will be a touch of history attached to tonight’s Super League clash between St Helens and Leeds, as Saints stalwart Paul Wellens reaches a significant career milestone.
Wellens – who made his debut for the Saints back in 1998 – will reach 413 Super League appearances if he plays for the Saints against the Rhinos tonight. That number may seem trivial, but it will tie him level with Keith Senior as the record appearance holder in the summer era.
Senior made 413 appearances for Sheffield and Leeds in a stellar playing career, and Wellens will be in good company at the top of the pile. You would imagine there will be some sort of recognition of the milestone tonight on TV – it has been eerily quiet on that front, after all.
Ironically, had Leeds not rested Kevin Sinfield last week against London, it would have been a double celebration. Sinfield will play his 412th Super League game tonight, leaving him one behind Wellens and Senior in what is a fairly impressive list.
SUPER LEAGUE CAREER APPEARANCES
1 Keith Senior (Leeds/Sheffield, 1996-2011) 413
2 Paul Wellens (St Helens, 1998-present) 412
3 Kevin Sinfield (Leeds, 1997-present) 411
4 Lee Gilmour (Castleford/Huddersfield/St Helens/Bradford/Wigan, 1997-present) 394
5 Jamie Peacock (Leeds/Bradford, 1999-present) 391
6 Danny Orr (Castleford/Harlequins/Wigan, 1997-2012) 382
7 = Leon Pryce (Catalan Dragons/St Helens/Bradford, 1998-present) 381
Keiron Cunningham (St Helens, 1996-2010) 381
9 Lee Briers (Warrington/St Helens, 1997-2013) 380
10 Andy Lynch (Castleford/Hull FC/Bradford, 1999-present) 373
