Jake Burns

Jake Burns shows the path to First Team is not linear 💪

The hooker originally came to the Red V on a three-month trial in January 2022 after being spotted playing open age with Halton Farnworth Hornets whilst he was still working as an accountant at a law firm.

After showing great work ethic whilst on trial, Burns then joined our Reserves ranks for the season, performing strongly in the campaign and was justly rewarded by being named the Saints’ Reserves Player of the Year for 2022.

Staying with Saints in 2023, Burns kept working hard; with Reserves Head Coach Derek Hardman stepping into the First Team training squad during the campaign, and taking opportunities to play on loan with North Wales Crusaders.

Jake started at #9 with the Welsh club in their incredible run to get to the Betfred League One Play-Off Final, winning three knockout fixtures straight after finishing the regular season in sixth place to get to the last match of the season.

Ahead of the 2024 season, Jake earned a full-time First Team contract with St.Helens, a just reward for his valiant efforts. At the start of July 2024, Jake made his official Club and Super League debut against Castleford Tigers at home. In his second Super League appearance away at Hull FC, off the bench, he grabbed his first and second tries for the Club against Hull FC.

It was a memorable season for the former accountant; he scored his first home try in the Saints’ final home match of the year against Castleford. In October, a one-year contract extension was announced for ‘Burnsy’, keeping him with the Club until the end of the 2025 season.

The 2025 campaign saw Burns step up in seniority when featuring for our Reserves side, leading the team as captain. When the First Team and Super League opportunities came for Jake in the year, he made his mark in his second Super League appearance of the season too, scoring a brace of tries in a home win over Salford. In November 2025, it was confirmed that Burns had put pen to paper on a two-year extension, keeping him with the Saints until at least the end of the 2027 season.