Jake Burns talks to saintsrlfc.com about his first season in the First Team with St.Helens, and looks ahead to 2025.
Coming into an elite sporting environment is no easy task, but doing it when you’re perhaps a bit older (in the traditional rugby league route sense), you could be forgiven for thinking it might be too tough to do.
However, as Head Coach Paul Wellens has spoken about before; Jake Burns’ story is one that our sport should champion. Players such as Jake have shown the door does not shut and opportunity could present itself.
Called ‘The Accountant’ by some of his Saints peers, a few years ago Jake was working with his player sponsor PD Law Solicitors in their accounts department. The firm even supported him during his development with Widnes Vikings as a youth player, and helped him with securing a qualification in accounting.
Moving forward to 2022, St.Helens had spotted Burns playing open age at Halton Farnworth Hornets and gave him a trial to train and play in our Reserves. He earned his way to play for the rest of that season and was named Saints’ Reserves Player of the Year.
The following year in 2023, whilst still working in our Reserves ranks the young hooker stepped into the First Team training squad and took opportunities to play on loan with North Wales Crusaders, playing a part in their memorable play-off campaign.
Wellens saw more than enough to offer Burns the chance to become a full time player in his squad for 2024, but even Jake did not envisage the amount of matches he would make in his Saints rookie season.
“Honestly, I didn’t really expect to play as many games as I did. 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.
“I would have been happy playing one game! It’s been a crazy year, one I didn’t expect.”
The 24-year-old certainly has quite the brains trust to lean on for advise and expertise, with two former Man of Steel winners in James Roby as one of his coaches, and Daryl Clark the current England starting hooker.
Burns is full of admiration of Clark, and is relishing the lessons he can learn alongside him.
“He is someone I look up to, and I’ll pick his brain for certain little things that he does. I’ll ask what he thinks is the best thing to do in certain situations and stuff like that. It’s so good to be around Daz, and on top of all that he’s just an overall good bloke too.”
Jake, whilst he is not part of our younger cohort of talent who have come through the Academy together, he is younger than our senior Saints. So there is a good blend of experience and youth for him to mix into.
“That has been something that I’ve really enjoyed, every one gets on with every one, that’s always a good thing. We all have different experiences too, and me being a little older than those young lads, it means I can bring something a little different whilst also still wanting to learn more and more myself.”
Speaking about his personal goals for 2025, the low maintenance player he is, Jake said a typically calm reply.
“I’d be happy to be in and around the squad, I’m not focused on making a certain amount of games or anything like that. I’ll be grateful, as I am right now, for any opportunity and I’ll take it when it comes – it’s about working hard. Hopefully as a team next season we can kick on and go win silverware, that would be good.”
To close, Burns was asked what winning a trophy would mean to him, and if it would be a rubber stamp on all his hard work being worth it?
“I would getting the opportunity to be in the First Team has made it all worth it. Silverware would be nice, and we’re going to be working hard as a team to get that – it would make it all the more sweeter though, for sure.”
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