MATT WHITLEY is ready to play his part in getting St Helens back on the trophy trail under new coach Paul Rowley after penning a contract extension to 2028.

Saints parted company with Paul Wellens earlier this month after he was unable to add any silverware to the World Club Challenge triumph against Penrith Panthers in Australia in February 2023 – his first match at the helm after stepping up from assistant to succeed Kristian Woolf.

Prior to that, Saints had won four successive Super League titles and the Challenge Cup in 2021.

Secondrow Whitley, 29, joined his hometown club ahead of the 2024 campaign after five years with Catalans Dragons, for whom he played in two Grand Final defeats – by Saints in 2021 and Wigan Warriors in 2023.

Having been part of Saints’ service area programme as a youngster, he started out at Widnes Vikings, coming through their old Academy system to make 100 first-team appearances.

He played 103 times for Catalans and is now set to add to his 52 games for Saints.

“It’s been a dream of mine to play for this club, and to be able to do that for another three years means so much to me,” he said.

“My goal is to win trophies here, and that’s been the aim since I started playing rugby as a five-year-old. To do it with Saints would be incredible.”

Having played centre on occasions, including in this year’s play-off semi-final defeat at Hull KR, Whitley explained: “You have to do what is best for the team at times.

“But the back row is where I feel most comfortable. I want to make a spot my own, and I’ll do everything I can to make that happen and give Paul Rowley some tough decisions.

“I’m really looking forward to working with him and seeing where we can go as a group. I think we’re all excited to get going again and kick on back to winning ways.”