St Helens will almost certainly head to market this off-season as Kevin Walters looks to put his own stamp on the club and one of the key positions he could be looking at is half-back.

Jonny Lomax has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season whilst fellow senior half Jackson Hastings is at the end of his one-year deal, with no indication yet as to whether he will extend his stay for 2027.

Currently suspended, Saints will play the remainder of the regular season without Hastings anyway and they could well be planning for life without him anyway, given his off-contract status.

Interim coach Eamon O’Carroll couldn’t offer any more insight on Hastings’ future when asked at his mid-week presser, stating: “I’m not sure. “Obviously, I’m not really involved in them conversations because of my current situation. I’ll be moving on myself at the end of the year. It’s probably one for Jacko.”

St Helens would not be short of options if they were to go to market. Always a big draw anyway because of their standing in the game, it’s fair to say that hiring the current Australia head coach will also offer considerable pull when entering negotiations.

We’ve picked out four options for who St Helens could sign for 2027 to play the Jackson Hastings role should he leave the club, something that’s not yet a certainty.

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St Helens’ 2027 half-back options assessed

Brad Schneider

There are very few NRL halves off contract but one who is and also has Super League experience is Brad Schneider. His loan spell at Hull KR will live long in the memory for Robins’ fans and he’s since won an NRL premiership down under.

Currently at the Dolphins, coached by ex-Saints boss Kristian Woolf, Schneider looks set to be playing a back-up role if he is to re-sign with the expectation being that George Williams and Kodi Nikorima will fight it out to be the starter alongside Isaiya Katoa for 2027.

Lachlan Ilias

One man down under who is contracted for 2027 but is understood to have been offered to Super League clubs is Lachlan Ilias, with the 26-year-old having started the season for Gold Coast though he’s spent much of his time in the Q Cup.

The Titans have signed up other depth and development options for 2027 such as Luke Hanson, whilst Zane Harrison has also committed for 2027 meaning Ilias could seek game time elsewhere.

Cody Walker

If Saints want experience to nurse Robertson then they should look no further than Cody Walker, who is another without a deal for 2027.

Souths reportedly are keen for him to stay but Walker will turn 37 in January and like Daly Cherry-Evans, he too could want a new challenge. The sticking points would be the fact an NRL deal may be on the table and the fact that he’s a six, not a seven, so it would be a case of square pegs in round holes, but his experience could outweigh that.

Lewis Dodd

Whilst contracted for 2027, a Lewis Dodd return to Saints is a rumour that won’t go away and if the club want a seven who knows all about their culture, then look no further than the man who guided them to their last trophy.

Catalans are building for 2027 and they’ve lost Toby Sexton already but John Cartwright may want to put his own stamp on the halves, just as Kevin Walters may want at Saints.