St.Helens R.F.C. is delighted to confirm that back-rower Matt Whitley has agreed to a new three-year contract with the Club, keeping him in the Red V until at least the end of the 2028 season!
Matt Whitley is proudly sponsored at Saints by Healthwatch St Helens.
This new deal will take the Billinge-born second-row into his third season as a Saint in 2026, and the following two seasons beyond that as well.
Having returned home to his boyhood club ahead of the 2024 season after five years in France with Catalans Dragons, Whitley has firmly established himself as a mainstay in the First Team’s matchday squad. In the 2025 campaign, he played in all but two fixtures.
A lifelong Saints supporter, Whitley was originally part of the Club’s service area programme, which meant he trained and worked with our youth players and coaches ahead of our Scholarship programme. Returning to St.Helens to play for his beloved team has meant the world to Whitley, and he is thrilled to remain a Saint for the next three years.
Speaking to saintsrlfc.com, Matt Whitley said: “I’m very happy to sign an extension at Saints. It’s been a dream of mine to play for this club, and to be able to do that for another three years means so much to me.
“My goal is to win trophies here, and that’s been the aim since I started playing rugby as a five-year-old. To do it with Saints would be incredible, and that’s what I want to do.”
Over the past two seasons, Whitley has shown a true team-first mentality by stepping into other positions, such as centre, when needed. As we head towards the new campaign, Matt’s focus is on cementing his spot in the back row.
“You have to do what is best for the team at times, which I’m happy to do, but the back row is where I feel most comfortable. I want to make that spot my own, and I’ll do everything I can to make that happen and give Paul [Rowley] some tough decisions.”
With excitement building for this new chapter, Whitley is eager to get started under our new Head Coach.
“I’m really looking forward to working with him and seeing where we can go as a group. I think we’re all excited to get going again and kick on, back to winning ways.”
Thanking the fans for their terrific support, Matt also shared his appreciation for the chant the supporters have given him.
“We all truly appreciate the support in the team – it’s brilliant. I’m still hoping I’ll get that Lamborghini given to me, though, maybe one day!”
Whitley began his professional rugby league career by coming through the Academy ranks at Widnes Vikings. He made his Super League debut with Widnes in 2015, playing there for four seasons and making 100 appearances for the Vikings.
He then moved to the south of France ahead of the 2019 season, developing into a key player for the Catalans Dragons during their rise to challenge for silverware. The back-rower was part of the side that won the Dragons’ first-ever League Leaders’ Shield and reached two Grand Finals, in 2021 and 2023.
Since joining the Saints, Whitley has made 52 appearances, scoring nine tries for a total of 36 points.
