Paul Wellens set the St Helens standard, says Brian Carney
Wednesday 24 June 2015 12:48, UK
Brian Carney told Sky Sports News that retiring Paul Wellens 'set the St Helens standard' in his time with the club.
Wellens, a feature of the St Helens team for 18 years, finished second in the Super League record books for tries scored, crossing the whitewash 199 times before an ongoing hip injury forced him to retire.
In summing up the contribution the St Helens stalwart made to the game of rugby league, Carney drew a comparison with football legend Paul Scholes.
“The way he's conducted himself on the field and off the field, a parallel with the famous Manchester United player would be appropriate," Carney told Sky Sports News HQ.
“Since he made his first appearance for St Helens in 1998 – he came on as a substitute against Halifax - he's just gone from strength to strength throughout the 17 or 18 years he's played with them.”
He put his body on the line. He never pulled out of anything, never shirked a responsibility.
Carney said there were two seasons in particular out of Wellens’ mammoth career that stood out for him.
“2006, one of his standout individual years, he was named Man of Steel - best player in the competition - Players' Player of the Year that year, and he won the Harry Sunderland trophy for man of the match in the Grand Final - that was a brilliant individual year.
“Team year, it would be hard to look past last year, 2014 - lifting the trophy at Old Trafford last October. That was an injury-ravaged St Helens side, and he was captain for the year.
“He gave them a pep talk after a heavy defeat during the season at Magic Weekend. He said what they performed and produced that day wasn't good enough, they would need to have better.
“This was the St Helens standard that he wanted to set, and they went on to win the Grand Final at Old Trafford - hugely important finish to his career last October in Manchester.”
Carney said the secret to the longevity of Wellens’ career, how he survived so many years at the top of a contact sport, escaped him.
“I have no idea; I certainly wasn't able to do it," he said. “He put his body on the line. He never pulled out of anything, never shirked a responsibility.
“To be able to play so many games and avoid injury for so long, I guess is testament to the way he conducted himself off the field, the way he looked after any injuries he did pick up, and the way he approached his training sessions.
“Keiron Cunningham said this season it's been a heartbreak to not pick Paul Wellens when he was fit earlier on this year.”
