SAINTS have extended the contracts of six of the hottest properties in the game – and signed Matty Dawson from Huddersfield Giants.
Luke Thompson, Lewis Charnock, Greg Richards and Andre Savelio have all signed two-year contracts whilst James Tilley and Connor Dwyer have both put pen to paper on new one-year deals at the Club.
These players are products of the Saints Academy system and all but one – Connor Dwyer – have been on the Club’s successful Tours to Australia.
Four – Luke, Lewis, Greg and James – have also made their first team debuts this season.
Saints Head Coach Nathan Brown said: “These are talented young kids who have come through the local system. They all play different positions and have different attributes but are good players who, if they weren’t at Saints, would be snapped up by other clubs.
“Lewis, Luke, Greg and James have had a taste of first team action already and have done well, whilst Andre is training with the first team squad. Connor will follow soon.
“They now have a long hard road ahead of them and they will need to work hard and make sacrifices. If they do that and have luck, they should develop into good players with long term futures at the Saints.”
Luke Thompson is a fast strong prop / back row forward. He has been with the club since he was 11 and signed from Bold Miners having previously played for Pilkington Recs.
The 18-year-old represented England on their Academy Tour of Australia and has played seven games for the Club after making his debut at London Broncos.
19-year-old Lewis ‘Duggy’ Charnock is a stand-off who also played full back and loose forward at junior level. He toured Australia with the Saints in 2011 and won the Coaches’ Award for the trip due to his outstanding efforts, versatility, enthusiasm and leadership.
He made his first team debut in the snow against Salford this season.
Cumbrian Greg Richards won Forward of the Year on Saints Academy’s unbeaten tour of Australia in 2011. Hailing from Barrow, he is an out and out prop with a big engine and played for England Under 18s at the age of 16.
He made his debut against Castleford earlier in July.
Andre Savelio is 18 and a back row forward. He joined Saints from Latchford Albion and has been with the club since he was 14. He’s played for England’s Under 16s and 18s – the latter at the age of 16. He’s got good hands, is powerful and has a keen eye for a gap.
James Tilley, 19, is a back rower who can also play at prop. He signed from Portico Vine and was St Helens Academy’s (u18s) captain last year and also on the Tour to Australia in 2011.
Like Greg, he made his first team debut against Castleford in April 2013.
Connor Dwyer is a 19-year-old second row / loose forward who has excelled in Saints Academy this season. He has played in 26 games totalling 16 tries. He signed from Portico, where we was coached by his dad Saints legend Bernard Dwyer, and was a teammate of James Tilley.
Saints are please to also announce the signing of Matty Dawson.
He is 22 and joins us from Huddersfield Giants where he has made five appearances to date.
He is a winger / centre who signed for then coach Nathan Brown from Castleford ahead of the 2010 season.
“We’re pleased to have Matty on board,” Nathan added. “He’s quick, talented and keen to learn. He has shown a lot of promise at the Giants and now, like our other younger signings, he needs to get his head down and keep on working.”
Matty has signed a two-year contract.
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