Jamie Jones-Buchanan has warned that St Helens are in dire need of a substantial rebuild after the club missed the Super League play‑offs for the first time in its storied history. The Saints were confirmed in seventh place on the 2026 ladder following a crushing 48‑10 defeat at the hands of the Leigh Leopards on Friday night, a result that cemented Hull KR's 36‑6 victory over Huddersfield and secured the top six spots for the play‑offs. The loss marked the seventh defeat in the Saints' last ten fixtures and was the second heavy loss in as many weeks, following a 28‑point drubbing by Leeds a week earlier.
The back‑to‑back setbacks have sparked a chorus of concern among supporters and pundits alike, with many questioning whether the club's recruitment strategy over the past few seasons has been fundamentally flawed. Eamon O’Carroll, who will be succeeded by former Brisbane Broncos and Australia head coach Kevin Walters ahead of the 2027 campaign, will now have to confront the reality that the squad is out of sync. Walters is expected to inject fresh ideas and restore confidence, but the underlying issues run deeper than a simple change of manager.
Throughout the season the Saints have been plagued by an unprecedented injury crisis – at one point in July, sixteen players were unavailable due to various ailments. This forced Paul Rowley, who stepped down as head coach that same month, to juggle a depleted roster while trying to keep the team competitive.
The injury woes were compounded by a historic 46‑0 loss to Toulouse earlier in July, the first time St Helens had been held scoreless at home in a league match since 1980. That defeat, combined with a six‑point gap behind league leaders Leeds Rhinos at the time, highlighted how far the club had slipped from the dominance it displayed when it captured four consecutive titles between 2019 and 2022.
Jones‑Buchanan summed up the situation on Sky Sports, stating, "Nothing is given in sport. You certainly can't copy and paste from one generation to another because context is king.
St Helens probably need a clear out." He pointed out that while the club boasts a pool of exceptional young talent, many of these players are arriving at a time when the team lacks the stability and experience needed to nurture them properly. "Older players have stayed a bit too long, some are playing out of position, and the jigsaw just hasn't fit for St Helens," he added.
The Saints' off‑season acquisitions included seasoned Australian forwards Shane Wright, Jacob Host and David Klemmer, as well as half‑backs Jackson Hastings and Joe Shorrocks. Mid‑season, they added Daniel Suluka‑Fifita, but salary‑cap constraints limited further signings.
Meanwhile, key departures such as Konrad Hurrell, Morgan Knowles, Moses Mbye and Joe Bennison, along with the mid‑season release of Kyle Feldt, left noticeable gaps in the squad. Looking ahead, the club announced a single new signing for 2027 – Solomona Fa'ataape from Catalans – a move that many view as insufficient given the breadth of the rebuilding required. Former Saints great and Sky Sports analyst Jon Wilkin was blunt in his assessment: "Saints' recruitment has been shocking.
They've made convenient, short‑term choices and haven't replaced like‑for‑like. They need to rethink their recruitment strategy." Wilkin continued, "There are a lot of young guys who have been thrown into the Super League before they're ready. That's fine for their development, but the root cause is an ageing squad that wasn't durable enough, coupled with shoddy replacements for departing players. That's why those youngsters are wearing the Saints jersey and getting trounced by Leigh." The criticism extends beyond the players to the broader club structure.
Over the past three to four years, a pattern of sloppy recruitment has eroded the squad's depth and balance. The lack of strategic, long‑term planning has forced the Saints to rely on ad‑hoc signings and promote untested talent prematurely, creating a fragile foundation that struggled under the rigours of a full Super League season. Eamon O’Carroll, reflecting on the disappointing campaign, acknowledged the pain but also saw an opportunity for growth.
"It's obviously really disappointing," he said after the Leigh match. "It doesn't sit well with me that I've been part of that, I won't shy away from it.
This group has enjoyed consistent success, so experiencing adversity can be good in some respects. Moving forward, conversations with Eamon and Abi have absolute clarity about what needs to be done, and I have every confidence they'll execute it.
Kevin Walters arriving now could be the catalyst to accelerate the club's progress." For the Saints, the path forward will involve more than just a new coach. They must address the salary‑cap limitations that have hampered recruitment, develop a clear succession plan for ageing veterans, and invest in a recruitment model that balances immediate needs with sustainable growth. Strengthening the scouting network, targeting proven Super League talent, and ensuring that young prospects are integrated at the right stage will be essential. The broader Super League picture remains competitive, with Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield Trinity, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Hull KR, Leigh Leopards and St Helens all vying for top positions.
As Sky Sports continues to broadcast every game live, the Saints will have ample opportunity to showcase any improvements under Walters' guidance. In summary, St Helens find themselves at a crossroads. A clear‑out, strategic recruitment overhaul, and a commitment to aligning player development with the club's long‑term ambitions are imperative if they hope to return to the summit of the Super League and reclaim the dominance they once enjoyed.