New St Helens head coach Paul Rowley has spoken about his coaching philosophy and what fans can expect in season 2026, speaking with clarity and confirming that fans can expect plenty more movement and shape in attack.
Stylish attack has been a characteristic of Rowley’s Salford, even in 2025 when they were down to the bare bones in terms of squad and playing on emotion in what was a torrid season off the field.
Prior to that, when the Red Devils had a full squad, they were viewed as one of the best attacking teams to watch in Super League and Rowley has told St Helens fans that they can expect similar.
Speaking at a fan event, the 50-year-old outlined his coaching philosophy and argued that whilst some will perceive Saints’ attack as potentially ‘risky’, that would actually be a misconception with the players set to be well-drilled enough to execute such an attacking and exciting playstyle.
St Helens fans told what to expect as Paul Rowley makes statement of intent
Rowley explained: “I’ll be clear with you, my philosophy and what I will say to these boys is movement and shape to create one on ones and then we’ll back ourselves one on one.
“The movement and shape, you need to be brave and it’s a difficult way of playing. I like to have transition in attack and play from deep and you’ve seen my teams do that before.”
Rowley will have no shortage of options in who forms the spine of his new-look St Helens attack with Jackson Hastings added to the mix alongside Jack Welsby, Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax and young gun George Whitby.
Speaking more on that playstyle and how some, including Salford fans in the past and St Helens fans in the coming years, will view his attack as risky, Rowley noted: “Like I said, it’s the perception of risk isn’t it?”
He admitted: I love it when I get all the fans, and there will be a few fans here, all going ‘Oh my god, what are they doing’ because we’ve passed it twice ten metres out from our own line.”
“You asked for it! Don’t start,” he then added, leading to laughs among the fans in attendance.
Surmising, he said: “It’s the perception of risk, if these boys rep it out enough and practice the skill to a level where there doesn’t seem to be a perceived risk anymore, then we’ll be confident enough and I’ll back them to do that.”
St Helens have been able to mix it with the top clubs at times over the past few years under Paul Wellens with their defence mightily impressive, but their attack has long been critiqued and embracing that “risk” could be the key tipping point towards success for the Red Vee.
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🫵 “You asked for it! Don’t start…”
Saints Head Coach Paul Rowley spoke about his coaching philosophy at our 2026 Saints Members event – ‘An Evening With McManus, Rowley & More…’
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