Penrith Panthers assistant coach Ben Gardiner is being lined up to take over as St Helens head coach should Paul Wellens depart Pressure has been building on Wellens for a number of weeks and following Saints’ 17-4 defeat to Leeds Rhinos at Magic Weekend on Saturday night boiling point was reached as supporters tried to personally confront him at St James’ Park leaves Wellens’ side sat sixth on the Super League ladder: but they are only clinging on to a play-off spot on points difference as things stand having already lost five league games this term Their record of five wins and five defeats in Super League is identical to that of Catalans Dragons eighth and ninth spots on the ladder respectively Saints enjoyed a roaring start to the season winning four of their first five games in all competitions and scoring 186 points in the process they have won just two games in Super League and were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by a Warrington side they’ve now lost seven games in a row against across all competitions It comes as no surprise that rumours of Wellens’ departure from Saints have been growing stronger over the last 24 hours or so reports suggest that the Merseyside outfit could well look Down Under for their new head coach HASTINGS RETURN?: Decision made on Jackson Hastings’ future amidst Super League speculation NRL columnist Peter Lang has added fuel to the fire suggesting that Gardiner – who combines his role at Penrith as Samoa’s head coach on the international front – is being lined up by Saints’ bigwigs as the number one target — Peter Lang (@PeterVLang) May 5, 2025 Panthers assistant Gardiner joined them ahead of the 2023 campaign after spells with Wests Tigers He has gone on to help Ivan Cleary’s side to back-to-back NRL Premierships, and took on the Toa Samoa job ahead of the 2023 Pacific Championships With previous international experience on his CV as the New Zealand Kiwis’ assistant Gardiner was the man that brought Samoa on their tour of England last autumn losing the Test Series 2-0 against Shaun Wane’s side READ MORE: Josh Papali’i makes NRL contract admission as Super League links addressed © Planet Sport Limited 2025 • All Rights Reserved Paul Wellens insists he can still make a success of St Helens despite a dismal Magic Weekend defeat to Leeds Rhinos which ended in him being confronted by the club’s baying supporters Saints lost 17-4 to the Rhinos at St James’ Park with their only points on the night coming from a Matt Whitley try Trailing 10-0 and having delivered a less than impressive first 40 minutes Wellens’ side were booed off by the majority of their fans at half-time with some Saints supporters sat closer to pitchside level even trying to get at their head coach Wellens was also seen arguing with Jack Welsby who refused to clap the supporters that remained inside St James’ Park having been booed off In a passionate post-match press conference Wellens said: “I’m going to continue to conduct myself in the right way despite being under a huge amount of pressure “What I won’t comment on is that if people want to behave in a certain way I certainly won’t stoop to that level “I take full responsibility for where the team’s at “You lose two or three games at St Helens and it’s not like every other club If you lose two or three games at other clubs a lot of people are quite accepting of it… not here “I wouldn’t have it any other way because high expectations and high standards are what makes successful teams.” The 45-year-old continued: “I feel for the players in some respects because they’re desperate to win a game We’re showing we care in the wrong way a derby game on Good Friday which was a great contest then we really let ourselves down against Warrington you’re in what many would deem a ‘crisis’ “I thought tonight was a big game for us because you win tonight and people start to go ‘well actually they’re a good side and they’ll be okay’ and the scrutiny will be on us even more.” Saints have now lost five of their last seven games across all competitions including each of the most recent three to Wigan Warriors Having already been dumped out of the Challenge Cup by Warrington Wellens’ side now have a week without a game – and don’t play again until May 15 when Catalans Dragons visit the Totally Wicked Stadium Wellens said: “My job is to support the team and find a way forward I’ve got every confidence and every belief in this group of players that we can be successful “We’re going to have to ride out this tough period “It’s going to be a long couple of weeks off the back of a defeat but we’re going to have to continue to work hard to make improvements but I’m also going to put a lot of responsibility on the players to play their part “We’re obviously disappointed with the run of results that we’ve got but I firmly believe we can move forward and move forward well.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player St Helens boss Paul Wellens has slammed Lewis Murphy’s yellow card in their Magic Weekend defeat to Leeds Rhinos labelling it ‘ridiculous’ and insisting Head of Match Officials Phil Bentham should have to field questions on refereeing decisions rather than coaches Saints were beaten 17-4 by the Rhinos on Saturday night in the final game of day one in the North East but were in the ascendancy and trailed by just six points when Murphy saw yellow from referee Jack Smith The winger leaped for the ball and caught it but made contact with the head of Leeds youngster Alfie Edgell with his knee After a lengthy review involving the video referee the card was brandished Murphy’s way and he was sent for ten minutes in the sin-bin Saints conceded a drop goal – and then went on to concede another try to kill any hopes of a comeback Wellens scathed: “I thought it was ridiculous if I’m quite honest “Lewis Murphy goes up to contest for the ball He’s got eyes for one thing and one thing one “We had Jake Wingfield in a Challenge Cup game at Warrington knocked out cold the other week and we were told that it was just an accidental rugby injury “What’s the difference between that then and this here tonight It’s quite flabbergasting to be honest with you “That was a big momentum shift in the game we were coming on strong and they then get down the field to make it 11-4 “I thought it was a ridiculous call.” including each of the most recent three against Wigan Warriors Wellens continued: “I get asked these questions as a coach we’re judged on our results so we have to come here and answer questions “That’s all part and parcel of being in this job I;m quite often answering questions around refereeing decisions and inconsistencies should stop answering those questions and we should get Phil Bentham to come and front up “He (could) answer the questions as to why they’re so inconsistent on a weekly basis “I haven’t (spoken to Jack Smith about the decision) because I’m not so sure what response I’d get “Everyone who’s been in rugby league for a long time sees that for what it is the refereeing team always seem to complicate the life out of every single decision that goes on over the course of 80 minutes.” It would not be an exaggeration to suggest St Helens coach Paul Wellens faces one of the biggest selection calls of his coaching career on Saturday evening Wellens has already made a brave call in dropping his captain two weeks ago – and the early assessment would be that the decision has not worked who himself is under growing pressure from corners of his club’s supporters now has to consider bringing his captain back in – but at the expense of who The favourite on paper would be youngster George Whitby – but in reality Whitby has acquitted himself well against Wigan and Warrington despite two defeats But does Wellens believe he can fit Whitby and Lomax into his team “Potentially,” he told Love Rugby League earlier this week even though he’s not been in the team You don’t leave a player of his experience out lightly “George Whitby had another good game on the weekend and the reason we’ve not won a few games is not down to the young lad I’ve got some decisions but Jonny comes back into contention.” That leaves Tristan Sailor as a potentially vulnerable player – on the assumption that Saints will not drop the England fullback Sailor has faced criticism from the likes of Jon Wilkin and Paul Sculthorpe in the last week for his performances – with his own switch to fullback not working There is the prospect of Sailor being nudged into the three-quarter line: but Deon Cross’ arrival and possible debut against Leeds on Saturday means that is remote “That’s always an option for us,” Wellens said this week when asked if he would consider moving Sailor back into the halves “Tristan and Jack have been in the 6 and 1 roles and when we brought Tristan in it was to play one of those roles.” The jury may be out on whether the Saints are a better side with Lomax in or not but Wellens is faced with a huge decision on Saturday evening It would not be an exaggeration to suggest it could define his tenure in the short-term We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. 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You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports Gary Wright was the owner of the Talbot Ale House in St Helens before it ceased trading in 2019 Wright was subsequently declared bankrupt in early 2020  This did not stop him applying for a £25,000 Bounce Back Loan on behalf of the pub failing to tell the bank he was bankrupt in the process  The loan was repaid in full earlier this year A former St Helens pub owner who failed to disclose his bankruptcy when he applied for Covid support funds has been handed a suspended sentence Gary Wright did not inform the bank that he was bankrupt when he obtained a £25,000 Bounce Back Loan in the summer of 2020 The 46-year-old made the application on behalf of the Talbot Ale House on Duke Street in St Helens town centre the pub he ran before his bankruptcy earlier that year at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 24 April He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,500 in costs The Bounce Back Loan was repaid in full shortly before Wright was sentenced Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service Gary Wright incurred significant debts after his business failed and he was ultimately declared bankrupt He then attempted to take advantage of a scheme which was backed by taxpayers and designed to support viable small businesses through the pandemic Bankrupts are legally required to declare their status when applying for loans or credit Wright clearly failed to do this which is why he now has a criminal conviction Talbot Ale House ceased trading in September 2019 and Wright was declared bankrupt in February 2020 due to debts owed to a major utility company Wright applied for a £25,000 Bounce Back Loan in June 2020 claiming the turnover of the pub was £400,000 meaning he has not been officially released from his bankruptcy Individuals subject to a bankruptcy order must disclose their status if they borrow or obtain credit of £500 or more A pub continues to run from the same address but under different management Read more about the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and the action the Insolvency Service can take if it finds misconduct   Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Pressure continues to pile on Paul Wellens after his St Helens side were beaten 17-4 by Leeds Rhinos at Magic Weekend on Saturday night Here are our Saints ratings from the St James’ Park press box… Sailor got moved out on to the wing half-an-hour in slipped to let Lachie Miller stroll in and been penalised for tripping a Leeds man up when he had the ball in hand His inclusion continues to plague Wellens and his team and when they opted to move him on to the wing far too many others had to change position in-game to accommodate it Bennison was the man hooked to accommodate all of the changes on the half-hour mark He had been put into touch five minutes prior but it almost feels too harsh to even hand him a rating given what happened Cross’ Saints debut isn’t one he’ll remember fondly because of the result We’d much rather be seeing him on the wing than in the centres though as evidenced by how well he took his try that was disallowed late on What’s happening at Saints currently must be killing Percival whose desire to dig in and scrap must be applauded Murphy was absolutely done by Miller as he strolled in for his first half try and then handed Leeds the ball back 20 metres out just three minutes into the second half with a stupid attempt at kicking the ball while bobbling around His night was summed up by a sin-bin every single member of the press were left scratching their heads at on the hour-mark Amid all the chaos caused by Sailor’s move out to the wing we at least got to see Welsby back in at full-back for 50 minutes or so That raw talent is something Saints must continue to harness and fine tune Only managed 12 minutes at the start of the game and then about nine in his second stint midway through the second half and hadn’t really had a great deal of involvement in the first 40 minutes It’s the first time in a long time we can remember Lees not doing the full 80 minutes Sironen got a great offload away near the try-line midway through the second half and though we can’t really remember any notable errors particularly given how well he took his try That’s the case for the vast majority NRL-bound Knowles passed his HIA during half-time and looked to make things happen in the second half He didn’t have much luck in doing so but remains one of Saints’ best forwards Lomax was introduced half-an-hour in as Sailor was shifted onto the wing but half-back partner Whitby was definitely the brighter of the two for what remained of the game We’ll just about edge a seven for Walmsley he’s not delivered a great deal over the last few weeks Didn’t spend very long off the field between his stints at St James’ Park Wellens threw Clark on just before the end of the first half but the hooker didn’t have the impact he’d have wanted on this game he’s showing up some of his senior team-mates at the minute St Helens have made a huge call for Friday night’s Super League clash with Wakefield – moving Tristan Sailor to fullback with Jonny Lomax out injured Lomax rolled his ankle during last weekend’s Challenge Cup quarter-final with Warrington Wolves and he has officially not made it in time to face Trinity on Friday Young half-back George Whitby comes in with Lomax out – but the most intriguing team call comes elsewhere in the spine who has played half-back since arriving in Super League It is a major call from Wellens following the disappointment of last weekend’s Challenge Cup exit to Warrington Wellens’ three-quarter line looks much more strong Lewis Murphy is back on the wing having returned from injury while Harry Robertson is back after missing out last week due to an HIA meaning Matt Whitley remains at centre in his absence Fellow winger Dayon Sambou does keep his place in the 17 Moses Mbye continues at hooker with Daryl Clark still out But the big call is undisputedly Sailor relocating to fullback as Wellens looks to find a solution to their issues in attack It remains to be seen whether it is a call that pays off 👉🏻 Parramatta Eels forward offered to Super League clubs 👉🏻 Major decision made on Las Vegas 2026 schedule as announcement looms 👉🏻 Salford Red Devils chief makes passionate vow as alarm bells ring in explosive interview 👉🏻 Sam Tomkins’ Ultimate Team: Wigan, St Helens and NRL legends included