Jamie Jones‑Buchanan has warned that St Helens face a substantial rebuilding phase after Eamon O’Carroll’s side failed to qualify for the Super League play‑offs for the first time in the club’s history. The Saints’ seventh‑place finish in the 2026 Super League was cemented on Friday night when they were trounced 48‑10 by the Leigh Leopards, while Hull KR’s 36‑6 victory over Huddersfield secured the top‑six positions for the other contenders.
The defeat marked Saints’ seventh loss in their last ten fixtures and represented a second heavy setback in as many weeks, following a 28‑point drubbing by Leeds a week earlier. The club’s fortunes have plummeted dramatically after a period of dominance that saw them claim four consecutive titles between 2019 and 2022. O’Carroll is set to be succeeded by former Brisbane Broncos and Australian head coach Kevin Walters ahead of the 2027 campaign. Walters will be tasked with revitalising a squad that has struggled with both form and fitness.
Injuries have been a persistent problem; at one point in July, a staggering sixteen players were unavailable due to various ailments. That same month saw Paul Rowley step down as head coach after a 46‑0 home loss to Toulouse – the first time the Saints had been held scoreless on their own ground in a league match since 1980 – leaving the team six points adrift of league leaders Leeds Rhinos.
The club’s recent slide has sparked intense debate about its recruitment policy. During the off‑season, St Helens added seasoned Australian forwards Shane Wright, Jacob Host and David Klemmer, as well as half‑backs Jackson Hastings and Joe Shorrocks. Mid‑campaign, they also secured Daniel Suluka‑Fifita. However, salary‑cap restrictions have limited further signings, and the team has seen several key departures, including Konrad Hurrell, Morgan Knowles, Moses Mbye and Joe Bennison, while Kyle Feldt was released midway through the season.
Looking ahead, the only confirmed addition for 2027 is Solomona Fa’ataape, who will join from Catalans. Former Saints great and Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin has been particularly vocal about the club’s transfer strategy, describing it as “shocking” and “short‑term”. He argued that the Saints have failed to replace outgoing talent on a like‑for‑like basis, opting instead for stop‑gap solutions that have not addressed the core deficiencies of the squad.
Wilkin noted that the influx of young players, while promising, has been forced upon the team because the veteran core was not robust enough to endure a full season, and the replacements that arrived were of insufficient quality. Jones‑Buchanan echoed these concerns on Sky Sports, stating, “Nothing is given in sport. You can’t simply copy and paste a successful formula from one generation to the next because context matters.
St Helens probably need a clear‑out.” He praised the flashes of brilliance shown by Tristan Sailor and Jack Welsby against Leigh, but stressed that the overall composition of the side has not clicked. “There are some exceptional young talents coming through, but they are arriving at the wrong time and lacking the best experiences.
Older players have lingered too long, and some are playing out of position. The jigsaw just isn’t fitting for St Helens at the moment.” The criticism extends beyond individual performances to the broader structural issues within the club. The Saints’ youth system continues to produce promising prospects, yet the pathway to senior success is hampered by a senior roster that is either over‑aged, mis‑aligned positionally, or simply not durable enough to withstand the rigours of a Super League season.
This mismatch forces inexperienced youngsters into high‑pressure situations, often resulting in heavy defeats such as the recent loss to Leigh. O’Carroll, reflecting on the disappointing season, acknowledged that the adversity could serve as a catalyst for future improvement. He told reporters after the Friday match, “It’s obviously really disappointing. It doesn’t sit well with me that I’ve been part of that, and I won’t shy away from it.
This group has enjoyed consistent success, so experiencing a bit of adversity is good in some respects. The conversations with Eamon and Abi have absolute clarity about what needs to be done, and I have every confidence they’ll act on it. Kevin Walters arriving now could be the perfect moment for the club to accelerate forward.” The upcoming transition to Kevin Walters is expected to bring a fresh tactical outlook and a more disciplined recruitment approach.
Walters, renowned for his success with the Brisbane Broncos and the Australian national team, will likely prioritize rebuilding the squad with a balance of seasoned professionals and ready‑to‑step‑up youngsters, ensuring that any new signings complement the existing talent pool rather than merely filling gaps. In summary, St Helens’ recent performances have highlighted deep‑seated issues in recruitment, squad composition, and injury management. The combination of an aging core, ill‑timed arrivals of young players, and a series of short‑term signings has left the club vulnerable. As the Saints prepare for a new era under Kevin Walters, the focus must shift toward strategic, long‑term recruitment, better injury mitigation, and a clear plan for integrating youth prospects into a competitive senior side.
Only by addressing these fundamental problems can St Helens hope to return to the upper echelons of the Super League and recapture the dominance they once enjoyed.