Bennison, Burns, Davies & Roberts extend with Saints for 2025

St.Helens R.F.C. is delighted to confirm that Jon Bennison, Jake Burns, Ben Davies and Will Roberts have all agreed to one-year contract extensions with the Club.

The four young Saints will therefore be part of Head Coach Paul Wellens’ First Team squad for the 2025 Betfred Super League season.

Below you will find Wellens’ comments on each player, along with words from each player themselves following confirmation of their contract extensions with the Red V.

Jon Bennison has been proudly sponsored by Sixon in the 2024 season.

A versatile and speedy outside back, the 21-year-old is comfortable on the wing or at fullback for the Saints and adds further value to the team as a goal-kicker as well.

Joining St.Helens as Scholarship player, Jon is former Thatto Heath Crusaders and West Bank Bears junior who has progressed through the Saints Academy. Bennison versatility saw him made his senior debut at fullback in the 2021 season against Salford Red Devils.

Chances to shine came in 2022 with some stellar performances as the Saints went on to secure a fourth-straight Super League title, with Bennison scoring in both the Semi-Final and the Grand Final.

In the 2023 season, Jon was issued the #5 shirt and was a member of the travelling party that went to Australia to win the World Club Challenge in Penrith Panthers’ backyard. Playing mostly on the wing when he has featured in the last two seasons, Jon grabbed his first career hat-trick in the closing stages of the 2024 season at home against Castleford Tigers.

Speaking about extending his time with the Club for 2025, Bennison told saintsrlfc.com: “I’m absolutely delighted, I love playing here and I’ve found it home for the past three years, so really delighted to stay for another year. I’d like to build on what’s come before and I’m really looking forward to next year.

“Next season we’re looking to get silverware and find success, because that’s what this club deserves, that’s what the players deserve with their effort. We’re really excited for that challenge.”

Crediting our supporters for their passion on game days, Jon is eager to get playing in 2025 in front of our fans.

“The lads are all hungry and really desperate for more success next year. When we’re at home and we hear the West Stand chanting, it gives you another lift. Throughout this year we’ve felt that support, certain times when you’re defending your own line and you hear the crowd erupts behind you, it gives you a new lease of life and pushes you that bit further.

“We can’t wait to rip in next year with the new signings and our young lads, it’s going to be really exciting, and we hope fans can’t wait either.”

Paul Wellens added: “Ever since he came into the first team environment Benno [Jon Bennison] has excelled in terms of his work ethic, and that really endeared him to the group from day one. He has a real thirst to improve as a player and he still has improvement in him and wants to find that improvement. I think he has shown at the back end of the year, in big games, he knows how to get the job done.

“Competition for places is crucial to any team that has ambitions to be successful. In any position, competition drives standards. Jon is a player that really does add value and drives those standards that we value.”

Jake Burns has been proudly sponsored by PD Law Solicitors in the 2024 season.

Showing that the pathway to the First Team is not linear, the 24-year-old hooker has worked tirelessly to earn his place in the St.Helens First Team and a deserved extension for the 2025 season.

Originally joining the Club on a three-month trial in January 2022 after being spotted at community club Halton Farnworth Hornets, Burns joined our Reserves team and put in terrific performances to be named Saints’ 2022 Reserves Player of the Year.

Building on that campaign, Jake began training with the First Team in 2023 and taking opportunities to play on loan with North Wales Crusaders. After impressing throughout the year, he was called up to join Paul Wellens’ senior Saints side for the 2024 season.

In July this year, Burns made his senior St.Helens debut at home against Castleford Tigers, however his second Super League appearance, an away trip to Hull FC, was a more memorable day as he scored his first try for the Club and backed it up on the day by grabbing his second for a brace in a big win.

Rotating off the bench and then getting his chance to start matches at the backend of the 2024 season, Burns showed why he is held in high regard by his teammates and coaches, and why he has earned a contract with the Saints for 2025.

Discussing having another year in the Red V, Burns said to saintsrlfc.com: “It’s been an amazing experience, something that that you dream of when you’re a kid, so I’m just very thankful for the opportunity and grateful to the Club for giving me it. I’m even more made up to stay for another year, so can’t wait to get going again.

“Honestly, I didn’t really expect to play as many games as I did this past year. I think I was just grateful each week for the opportunity to be in and around all the boys and staff who have been helping me out.”

“Next year, it’s just about working hard, and hopefully as a team we can kick on and go win some silverware.”

Paul Wellens commented: “Keeping Burnsy [Jake Burns] was an absolute no-brainer, I think everybody’s seen what he can add to the team when he’s played this year. I don’t think he envisaged getting the number of opportunities that that he did, but with any opportunity you’ve got to grasp it with both hands. Jake’s done exactly that.

“We’re delighted that we can reward him with an extension to his contract, and like the rest of the players that we are announcing to have extended, Jake will continue to work hard to find the improvements he needs to find.”

Ben Davies has been proudly sponsored by Ace Odds Betting Calculator in the 2024 season.

Versatile and fiercely competitive, 24-year-old Davies is an embodiment of a ‘team-first’ player as he is willing to put his hand up to play or do whatever the team needs.

A former Halton Farnworth Hornets and Widnes Moorfield junior, Davies was with Widnes Vikings’ academy and progressed through to make his senior and professional debut in 2019. Ben played for England’s Under 18s Academy before joining the Saints from the 2020 season.

Initially part of our Reserves setup, Davies made his senior debut in 2020 against Salford Red Devils at centre. 2022 was Davies’ breakthrough year as he stepped into the halves and did a strong job, showcasing a remarkable boot for powerful and high kicks, and scoring eight tries in that campaign.

In 2023, Ben joined our Saints who went down under for the World Club Challenge and brought home our club’s third world title. In the last two seasons he has made eleven match appearances in both years and has featured frequently in our matchday squad as the 18th player.

Beloved by his teammates and coaches for his remarkable work ethic, Davies’ extension ensures he will remain part of St.Helens’ First Team for 2025.

Talking about staying with the Saints for 2025, Davies commented to saintsrlfc.com: “I’m happy and chuffed, I know it’s been a tough year for everyone at the Club but I’m happy it’s over the line and I can rip into next year and start pre-season.

“I want to play and get more game time; it is tough with the high-level players we have got in the team but whenever I get that chance, I’ve got to show I can play at this level.”

The role of 18th-player on matchdays can be one of the toughest in the league, but Davies understands his importance to the team when he has been in the spot.

“It’s obviously tough because you want to be out there in the seventeen, but you’ve also got a job to do. That job is to help get everyone prepped and ready for the game, I just do everything I can, it’s in the role of being the 18th-man and you’ve got to do it, if you don’t there is no point being there.”

In a message to the Saints faithful, Davies urged our supporters to keep singing their songs and making all the noise they can in the stands.

“Just bring it, be loud and proud, and just be yourselves. We have great fans, and we need everyone there, singing all the songs, I love the George Delaney one, so keep singing and keep getting behind the lads. People might not think it has a big impact, but it does.”

Paul Wellens said: “Ben is a really, really well-liked member of the group, a hard-working kid, and a knowledgeable rugby league player. He is someone that the lads love having around, and I know he’s been frustrated at times this season, which is understandable as he has been quite often in that 18th-man role – being just one step away from the matchday team.

“I can’t praise him highly enough on how he’s handled those situations because he has never let his own personal disappointments become a distraction for anybody else. Ben has a real drive to force his way into our team.”

Will Roberts has been proudly sponsored by Newbridge Fishing Lakes in the 2024 season.

A young, talented half-back that has come through the Saints Academy and is eager to make his senior St.Helens debut.

Joining the Red V’s Scholarship side at the age of fourteen from community club Ryland Sharks, Roberts has progressed through our youth development to earn a spot in the First Team.

Excelling with our Academy and Reserves teams, the 2023 season began in flying fashion for Will, and he went on to make his professional debut with dual-registration partners Swinton Lions in the summer. However, a serious knee injury ended his 2023 season early and the hard work in rehab began.

In 2024, Roberts returned to the field firstly with our Reserves and then back on dual-registration with Swinton, followed by a short-term loan with Rochdale Hornets.

With this extension, the 19-year-old offers further competition in the halves for the 2025 Saints First Team.

Thrilled to remain a St.Helens player for the upcoming season, Roberts said to saintsrlfc.com: “It was tough missing a big part of the season but getting back on the field and being able to stay fit, overall, I’m happy with how the season played out.

“Going back to where I did it originally with Swinton and it all feeling fine again was good for me too. In the end it was just about getting back on the field and playing against blokes. I needed game time and got the chance with Rochdale too, and that was more good experience for me.”

Hungry to make his senior debut for the Club, Roberts knows he needs to keep working hard and push for a spot and add competition to his fellow half-backs.

“The debut is obviously what I want, it’s what you want when you were a kid, and I’d love to make my Super League debut. Hopefully, that will be this year if I train well enough and play well enough.”

Paul Wellens added: “Will is a brilliant young man, another well liked member of the group and he has had some adversity coming off the back of a really serious injury. This season just gone has been about getting him back playing, getting back to enjoying his rugby league. Will has gone through that now and is probably at a pivotal point in his career in terms of the chance to do a full-time pre-season, fully fit – his first time to do that.

“I’m sure we’ll find some strong improvements in his game, so next year is a huge year for him and we’re all wanting him to do well. We are all here to support him in that.”

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