Jacob Host will be sponsored as a St.Helens player by i-Life Travel.
The 29-year-old joins after ten seasons in the NRL, bringing size, power, and valuable experience to the Saints’ forward pack.
After making his debut with St George Illawarra Dragons in 2016, the tall Aussie played for the Dragons for five seasons before making the move over to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, where he has been playing for the last five seasons.
With some big game pedigree under his belt, Host featured in the 2021 NRL Grand Final for Souths against Penrith Panthers, coming off the bench and playing significant minutes in a dramatic 14-12 defeat. A missed last-minute conversion almost took the game into golden point.
The six foot, three inches tall back-rower has made 119 appearances in the NRL, scoring 11 times.
As a junior, Host represented the Australian Schoolboys and New South Wales Under-18s, and was named in the Junior Kangaroos squad in 2016. That same year, he helped Illawarra Cutters to the NSW Cup premiership and was named in the NSW Cup Team of the Year.
In 2022, he was awarded the Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year, recognising his contributions on and off the field.
Host will arrive in the UK later this year to begin pre-season with the Saints ahead of the 2026 Betfred Super League campaign.
Jacob Host is ecstatic to become a St.Helens player and told saintsrlfc.com: “I’m over the moon! When Saints came knocking, the biggest club in England, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
“I’ve learned a lot playing alongside some of the best players in the game. I feel I’ve developed massively as a player, and getting to the Grand Final was an experience that I want again.”
Fully aware that he is joining a club that demands success, Host wants to hit the ground running, embed himself into the Saints team and fight for silverware.
“I don’t want to wait around – I want to be challenging for trophies straight away. It’s an exciting time for the Club, and I think that my energy can help us achieve that.”
In a message to our faithful supporters, Host shared his desire to work hard for our club, now that he will become a Saint.
“I’m just really excited to get over there and rip in with all the boys! I’m going to work my backside off for the team and the fans, and do everything I can to get the win every week.”
Head Coach Paul Wellens commented on the acquisition of Jacob Host and added, “The addition of Jacob to the Saints squad is a terrific one. Knowing how highly regarded he is over in Australia by his peers, and having watched him for some time now, we are adding not only a player who I am certain will work exceptionally hard, but a good person to our club.
“Whenever we look to bring in someone, we look for players who will perform on the field and add to our team. I am sure Jacob will be a great fit, and we look forward to seeing him in the Red V.”
