Owen Dagnall

🗡️ ‘Daggers’ is a young, fast, and exciting outside back

Owen joined the Saints at the age of fourteen from local community side Halton Farnworth Hornets to become a Saints Scholarship player. Over the two years with our Under 16s setup he would develop and join the world-renowned Saints Academy, and he flourished.

Starring on the wing or at centre, he showed a promising talent of finishing tries. In 2023, over nine matches he scored a remarkable 13 times, including one try in both the Semi-Final and Grand Final as St.Helens were crowned Academy Champions that year.

Dagnall’s progression continued in earnest, with more tries and representation honours as an Academy player for both Lancashire and England. More match opportunities came to keep up his progression in the Saints Reserves in both 2023 and 2024.

Midway through the 2024 season, Paul Wellens brought Owen into the First Team training environment, and in July, he was included for the first time in a 21-man senior squad selection to earn the shirt number #34.

Ahead of the start of the 2025 season, Dagnall committed his long-term future to the Saints by signing a four-year contract extension until the end of the 2028 season.

In 2025, Owen’s focus switched fully onto being a St.Helens player in his first elite Pre-Season, with one fixed goal in mind: earn his official debut with the Club, and he did it. On Saturday, 8th February 2025, Owen came off the bench in the Saints’ Challenge Cup tie against West Hull, played at the home of Hull KR.

The outside back would appear for Halifax on dual registration, scoring a remarkable chip and chase of his own kick; however got injured whilst featuring for the Panthers. After rehabilitating following that injury, ‘Daggers’ pushed for his first Super League match appearance, and earned it on Friday, 23rd May against Huddersfield Giants, coming off the bench. The Saints on that day romped home to a big 4-46 victory to make Owen’s top-flight debut extra sweet.

Dagnall would make his first senior Saints start in June, away against Salford, and would score his first Super League try too, with a classic winger’s dive into the corner. His try effort was part of a 4-46 victory over the Red Devils. Five days later, Dagnall followed it up with his first home try in an important Red V win over Leeds Rhinos, 18-4, with Owen’s joyful face showing just how much it meant to him.

Owen’s rookie campaign was sadly cut short after an injury, but his impact during a ten-match run in the summer was brilliant, scoring eight times, with most of them coming in memorable fashion.