St.Helens R.F.C. is delighted to welcome outside back Deon Cross to the Club on a two-and-a-half-year contract, keeping him as a Saint until at least the end of the 2027 season!
Our newest addition comes following the Club registering him as a player, and despite reports from other sources, the Saints have not paid a transfer fee or agreed to any player exiting the Club as part of any exchange.
It means that Cross can come into contention for selection with immediate effect and will begin training with the Saints straight away too.
It is a homecoming for the 28-year-old who was born and raised in the town of St Helens and took his first steps towards becoming a professional rugby league player in our youth development pathway, and then went on to become a Saints Scholar too.
Cross continued as a young talent with his local community club Blackbrook ARLFC, where he played until signing for Rochdale Hornets in 2018.
Continuing his progression, Cross earned his stripes by playing in the Championship firstly with the Hornets before joining Barrow Raiders and Widnes Vikings. In 90 appearances in the competition across the three teams, Deon scored 49 tries before earning his move up into the Super League.
In 2022, Cross made his top-flight debut and since then has racked up 93 appearances in Super League, scoring 32 times, earning England Knights selection as well.
The athletic player is comfortable playing at the centre or on the wing, adding further competition to the Saints’ three-quarters options.
Ecstatic to be joining his hometown club, Deon Cross told saintsrlfc.com: “I’m very excited! I’m really looking forward to pulling on that Red V and it feels quite surreal.
“It feels like a massive, full-circle moment, it’s crazy! I live in the town, this is my hometown club, all my family we are big supporters, and they don’t have to be neutrals anymore!
“This is more than just a club for me, with all the history and the connections I have got between the club and my family. I can’t wait!
“I’ve been a fan growing up, a season ticket holder when I was a young lad, and now being coached by Paul Wellens, who I used to watch when he played at Knowsley Road. I think you have to pinch yourself sometimes.”
Head Coach Paul Wellens welcomed Cross back to the Saints, adding: “Deon is a great addition to come into our squad and a player I’ve admired for some time. It’s a great story, similar to Matt Whitley, as he was a young lad in our system as a junior, and it didn’t quite work out for him. Now, he’s come full circle, and I know how much it means to him to represent this club.
“He is comfortable at centre or wing and gives us options, on both sides of the field. He is an athletic player, quick, very competitive, and a top-quality person who will fit in really well with the rest of our team.”
