View source for St Helens R.F.C.

{{Short description|English professional rugby league club}}
{{About|the English rugby league team|the English rugby union team|Liverpool St Helens F.C.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox rugby league club
  | clubname               = St Helens
  | image                  = [[File:St Helens RFC logo.svg|150px]]
  | fullname               = {{nowrap|St Helens Rugby Football Club}}
  | nickname               = The Saints<br/>Red V
  | short name             = 
  | founded                = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1873}}
  | colours                = White and red
  | web                    = {{url|https://www.saintsrlfc.com/|saintsrlfc.com}}
  | ground                 = [[BrewDog Stadium]]
  | capacity               = 18,000
  | coach                  = [[Paul Rowley]]
  | captain                = [[Matty Lees]]
  | league                 = [[Super League]]
  | season                 = [[2025 Super League season|2025 season]]
  | position               = 5th
  | current                = 
  |cup1                    = [[Rugby Football League Championship|Championships]]
  | cup1titles             = 17
  |cup1years               = [[1931–32 Northern Rugby Football League season|1932]], [[1952–53 Northern Rugby Football League season|1953]], [[1958–59 Northern Rugby Football League season|1959]], [[1965–66 Northern Rugby Football League season|1966]], [[1969–70 Northern Rugby Football League season|1970]], [[1970–71 Northern Rugby Football League season|1971]], [[1974–75 Northern Rugby Football League season|1975]], [[Super League I|1996]], [[Super League IV|1999]], [[Super League V|2000]], [[Super League VII|2002]], [[Super League XI|2006]], [[Super League XIX|2014]], [[Super League XXIV|2019]], [[Super League XXV|2020]], [[Super League XXVI|2021]], [[Super League XXVII|2022]]
  |cup2                    = [[Challenge Cup]]s
  | cup2titles             = 13
  |cup2years               = [[1955–56 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1956]], [[1960–61 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1961]], [[1965–66 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1966]], [[1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1972]], [[1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1976]], [[1996 Challenge Cup|1996]], [[1997 Challenge Cup|1997]], [[2001 Challenge Cup|2001]], [[2004 Challenge Cup|2004]], [[2006 Challenge Cup|2006]], [[2007 Challenge Cup|2007]], [[2008 Challenge Cup|2008]], [[2021 Challenge Cup|2021]]
  |cup3                    = [[World Club Challenge]]s
  | cup3titles             = 3
  |cup3years               = [[2001 World Club Challenge|2001]], [[2007 World Club Challenge|2007]], [[2023 World Club Challenge|2023]]
  |cup4                    = '''Other honours'''
  | cup4titles             = [[#Honours|39]]
  | cap                    = 551
  | mostcap                = [[James Roby]]
  | points                 = 3,413
  | mostpoints             = [[Kel Coslett]]
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| pattern_b1         = _sthelens2026h
| pattern_ra1        = _sthelens2026h 
| pattern_sh1        = _sthelens2026h 
| pattern_so1        = _sthelens2026h
| leftarm1           =
| body1              = FFFFFF
| rightarm1          =
| shorts1            = FF0000
| socks1             = ffffff
| pattern_la2        =  
| pattern_b2         = 
| pattern_ra2        =  
| pattern_sh2        = 
| pattern_so2        = 
| leftarm2           =418899 
| body2              =418899 
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}}
'''St Helens R.F.C.''', commonly known as '''Saints''', is a professional [[rugby league]] club in [[St Helens, Merseyside]], [[England]]. Founded in 1873, the club is one of the oldest members of the [[Rugby Football League]], and one of the most successful clubs in its history.  The club plays their home games at the [[Totally Wicked Stadium|BrewDog Stadium]] and currently compete in [[Super League]], the top tier of [[British rugby league system]]. Since 1961 the club's home colours have been distinctive white shirts with a prominent red "V" on the chest of the jersey.

St Helens have won the [[List of British rugby league champions|League Championship]] 17 times, the [[Challenge Cup]] 13 times and [[World Club Challenge]] on three occasions.<ref name="St Helens RLFC Club Records">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php|title=St Helens RLFC club Records|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 June 2009|access-date=24 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="St Helens RLFC Club Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/club.php?id=33498|title=St Helens RLFC Club Profile|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=15 July 2009|access-date=14 July 2009|archive-date=21 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921105101/http://www.superleague.co.uk/club.php?id=33498|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since the foundation of the Super League in 1996, Saints have been the most successful team, winning 10 championships (including 4 in a row between 2019 and 2022), and being runner up a further 5 times (losing to [[Leeds Rhinos]] each time between 2007 and 2011), while winning the [[League Leaders Shield]] 9 times.

The club have a traditional [[St Helens R.F.C.–Wigan Warriors rivalry|rivalry with Wigan Warriors]] as the two most successful clubs in the British game, and close regional rivals. The clubs face each other traditionally on [[Good Friday]]. The club also have a local rivalry with the [[Warrington Wolves]] and a rivalry with Leeds Rhinos borne out of close competition during the Super League era.

==History==
{{main|History of St Helens R.F.C.}}

{{see also|List of St Helens R.F.C. seasons}}

===Early years (1873–1945)===
[[File:Challenge cup 1897.jpg|left|thumb|240px|St. Helens pictured in the [[1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season#Final|first ever Challenge Cup Final]], 1897: Batley (left) vs St Helens (right)]]

St Helens are the oldest members of the [[Rugby Football League]].<ref name="The Great Schism">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/Schism.html|title=The Great Schism|publisher=RugbyFootballHistory.com|date=20 August 1895|access-date=24 December 2009}}</ref> Founded as '''St Helens Football Club''' on 19 November 1873 at the Fleece Hotel by William Douglas Herman,<ref name="St Helens RLFC Club History">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/clubinfo|title=St Helens RLFC Club History|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=29 August 1873|access-date=14 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722033905/http://www.saintsrlfc.com/clubinfo|archive-date=22 July 2009}}</ref> they played their first ever match on 31 January 1874 against [[Liverpool]] Royal Infirmary.<ref name="St Helens First Match">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php|title=St Helens First Match|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=31 January 1874|access-date=14 July 2009}}</ref> They became known as '''St Helens Rangers''' up until the 1880s. The club moved from the City Road Ground in 1890 where they had shared with [[St Helens Recreation RLFC|St Helens Recs]] when neither were members of the Northern Rugby Football Union.<ref name="St Helens RLFC Club History" /> They defeated Manchester Rangers in the first match played at Knowsley Road.

In 1895 the club were one of [[History of rugby league#The schism in England|22 clubs that resigned]] from the [[Rugby Football Union]] and established the [[Rugby Football League|Northern Union]].<ref name="The Great Schism" /> The first match of the new code was an 8–3 win at home to [[Rochdale Hornets]] before 3,000 spectators, [[Robert Doherty (rugby league)|Bob Doherty]] scoring St Helens' first try.<ref name="Saints' first match in Northern Union">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7|title=Saints' first match in Northern Union|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=7 July 1895|access-date=12 July 2009}}</ref> They played in a vertically striped blue and white jersey—a stark contrast to the well known broad red band which would become the kit for the club later. The club reverted to this kit for one season during the rugby league centenary season in [[1994–95 Rugby Football League season|1995]].

The [[Challenge Cup]] was launched in [[1897 in sports#Rugby league|1897]] and it was St Helens who contested its first final with [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]], at [[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]], [[Leeds]]. The "Gallant Youths" of Batley emerged victorious 10–3,<ref name="Challenge Cup Role of Honour">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/4158148.stm|title=Challenge Cup Role of Honour|publisher=BBC|date=26 August 2006|access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="1897 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=543|title=1897 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=BBC|date=26 August 1897|access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> with Dave "Red" Traynor scoring the lone St Helens' try.<ref>{{cite book|last = Hoole| first = Les | title = The Rugby League Challenge Cup | publisher = Breedon Books Ltd | date = 8 August 1998 | id = () | isbn = 1-85983-094-3 }}</ref>

{| class="toccolours" 
!{{fontcolor|Red|St Helens 1897 Challenge Cup Final team}}
|-
|align=centre|<div style="background:white;border:thin red solid">
{|
|-----
|
|'''11''' Tom Winstanley ({{rlp|SR}})
|
|'''12''' Tom Reynolds ({{rlp|SR}})
|-----
|'''14''' Billy Briers (FL)
|
|'''13''' Peter Dale ({{rlp|LF}})
|
|'''15''' Bill Whiteley (FL)
|
||
|-----
| colspan=7 |
|-----
|
|| 
|'''7''' Freddie Little ({{rlp|SH}})
|-----
|
||  ||
|'''6''' Richard O'Hara ({{rlp|SO}})
|-----
|
||  || || 
|'''4''' Jim Barnes ({{rlp|CE}})
|-----
|
||  || ||  ||
|'''3''' David Traynor ({{rlp|CE}})
|-----
|'''5''' [[Billy Jacques]] ({{rlp|WG}})
|
||  || ||  ||
|'''2''' [[Robert Doherty (rugby league)|Bob Doherty]] ({{rlp|WG}})
|-----
|
||  ||
|'''1''' Tom Foulkes ({{rlp|FB}})
|-----
|}
</div>
|}
Between 1897 and 1901, St Helens were not successful, even generally considered a mid—table side.<ref name="1897/1898 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1897_98|title=1897/1898 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1898|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1898/1899 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1898%2099|title=1898/1899 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1899|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1899/1900 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1899_00|title=1899/1900 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1900|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref> They finished second to bottom in the 1900–01 Lancashire League season, meaning they did not qualify to compete in the national league the year later.<ref name="1900–1901 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1900_01|title=1900/1901 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1901|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref> In the 1901–02 season, however, they did finish third in the Lancashire league.<ref name="1901/1902 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1901%202|title=1901/1902 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1902|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref> In [[1902–03 Northern Rugby Football Union season|1902–03]], the combined [[Rugby league county leagues|Lancashire]] and Yorkshire leagues saw St Helens enter for the first time. St Helens were placed in Division 1 but finished next to bottom and suffered relegation.<ref name="1902/1903 Division 1 League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1902%203|title=1902/1903 Division 1 League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1903|access-date=12 July 2009}}</ref> Promotion was gained at the first attempt,<ref name="1903/1904 Division 2 League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1903%204|title=1903/1904 Division 2 League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1904|access-date=12 July 2009}}</ref> only for another poor year to see them finish once again in a relegation position.<ref name="1904/1905 Division 1 League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1904%205|title=1904/1905 Division 1 League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1905|access-date=12 July 2009}}</ref> However the two Divisions became one League to save the club from a second relegation.<ref name="1905/1906 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1905%206|title=1905/1906 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1906|access-date=12 July 2009}}</ref> The Champion fortunes that St Helens fans' greet today were certainly not apparent in this period, with the club finishing fourth to bottom in 1907,<ref name="1906/1907 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1906_07|title=1906/1907 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1907|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref> third to bottom in 1908,<ref name="1907/1908 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1907%208|title=1907/1908 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1908|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref> and consistently mid—table between 1909 and 1913.<ref name="1908/1909 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1908%209|title=1908/1909 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1909|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1909/1910 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1909%2010|title=1909/1910 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1910|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1910/1911 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1910%2011|title=1910/1911 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1911|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1911/1912 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1911%2012|title=1911/1912 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1912|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1912/1913 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1912%2013|title=1912/1913 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1913|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref>

On 14 June 1913, St Helens Recs joined the Northern Union after defecting from [[rugby union]] and [[association football]]. The Recs were based individually at the City Road ground, after previously sharing with St Helens, before their move to Knowsley Road, when neither played rugby league. The Recs played their first game on 6 September 1913. St Helens now had two [[Professional sport|professional]] rugby league teams. In both sides first year in co—existence, St Helens finished yet again in a disappointing low mid—table finish.<ref name="1913/1914 Emergency War League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1913%2014|title=1913/1914 Emergency War League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1914|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref>

During the [[First World War]], St Helens struggled to compete and failed to complete the full fixture list of the Emergency War League on two occasions,<ref name="1915/1916 Emergency War League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1915_16|title=1915/1916 Emergency War League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1916|access-date=20 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="1916/1917 Emergency War League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1916_17|title=1916/1917 Emergency War League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1917|access-date=20 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="1917/1918 Emergency War League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1917_18|title=1917/1918 Emergency War League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1917|access-date=20 July 2009}}</ref> with the club finishing mid—table in the first year of the war,<ref name="1914/1915 Emergency War League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1914%2015|title=1914/1915 Emergency War League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1915|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref> as well as being beaten by 37 points to 3 by Huddersfield in that year's Challenge Cup Final.<ref name="1915 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=1157|title=1915 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 May 1915|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref>

The aftermath of the war was still taking its toll on national sport, not merely the club's ability to compete and complete fixtures, on 31 January 1918 'close down' due to a lack of finances following a 22–0 defeat by Widnes. Saints re-open on 25 December 1918 and are beaten 20 points to nil by St Helens Recs in a friendly fixture at City Road. In the shortened 1918–1919 season, St Helens played only nine times.<ref name="1918/1919 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1918%2019|title=1918/1919 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1919|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref> The club's lack of success and disappointing league finishes continued for another seven seasons.<ref name="1919/1920 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1919%2020|title=1919/1920 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1920|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1920/1921 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1920%2021|title=1920/1921 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1921|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1921/1922 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1921%2022|title=1921/1922 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1922|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1922/1923 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1922%2023|title=1922/1923 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1923|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1923/1924 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1923%2024|title=1923/1924 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1924|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1924/1925 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1924%2025|title=1924/1925 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1925|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1925/1926 Northern Football Union League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1925%2026|title=1925/1926 Northern Football Union League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1926|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref>

The club defeated town rivals the Recs in the [[RFL Lancashire Cup|Lancashire]] [[Rugby league county cups|County Cup]] Final by 10 points to 2 in the [[1926–27 Northern Rugby Football League season|1926–27]] season.<ref name="1926/1927 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=1519|title=1926/1927 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=20 November 1927|access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> The season after, they were trophyless, finishing tenth in a 28—team league.<ref name="1928/1929 Lancashire Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1928_29|title=1928/1929 Lancashire Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=20 November 1929|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref> One year after the Challenge Cup's début at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]], St Helens reached the final there where they were defeated by 10 points to 3 by [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] in 1930.<ref name="Challenge Cup Role of Honour" /><ref name="Ray French Top Six Upsets">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/ray_french/2949991.stm|title=French Lessons|publisher=BBC|date=24 April 2003|access-date=24 April 2003|archive-date=16 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216171501/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/ray_french/2949991.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> They won their first ever National Championship in the [[1931–32 Northern Rugby Football League season|1931–32]] season,<ref name="1931/1932 National League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1931_32|title=1931/1932 National League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1932|access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> defeating [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]] 9–5 in the final.<ref name="1931/1932 National League Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=1764|title=1931/1932 National League Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1931|access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> This was the same season that they won their second Lancashire League,<ref name="1930/1931 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1931_32|title=1930/1931 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1931|access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> the first coming in the [[1929–30 Northern Rugby Football League season|1929–30]] season.<ref name="1929/1930 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1929_30|title=1929/1930 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1930|access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> They lost the 1933 Lancashire Cup Final to Warrington,<ref name="1933 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=1780|title=1933 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=19 November 1933|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref> whilst finishing in no competitive position in the league once more.<ref name="1932/1933 National League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1932_33|title=1932/1933 National League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1933|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref> St Helens reached no finals or achieved any more honours during the remainder of the 1930s.<ref name="St Helens RLFC Club Records" /> Also, what appeared to be building as something of an inter—town derby between the two St Helens clubs was struck down as St Helens Recs played their last game on 29 April 1939, as, due to the [[Great Depression|economic depression]], it was not possible for the town to sustain two teams.<ref name="History of Pilkington Recs RLFC">{{cite web|url=http://pilkingtonrecs.co.uk/aboutus.aspx|title=History of Pilkington Recs RLFC|publisher=pilkingtonrecs.co.uk|date=26 July 2010|access-date=26 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210075408/http://pilkingtonrecs.co.uk/aboutus.aspx|archive-date=10 December 2009}}</ref>

Like during the First World War, the club could not enjoy having a full—time squad during the [[Second World War]] and struggled to compete. They did not compete in the National Championship until a 17 team Emergency War League was formed in the 1941–42 season,<ref name="1941/1942 Emergency War League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1929_30|title=19241/1942 Emergency War League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1942|access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> and did not win any regional honours. They finished bottom of the EWL in seasons 1942–43<ref name="1942/1943 Emergency War League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1942_43|title=1942/1943 Emergency War League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1943|access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> and 1943–44<ref name="1943/1944 Emergency War League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1943_44|title=1943/1944 Emergency War League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1944|access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> and next-to-bottom in 1944–45.<ref name="1944/1945 Emergency War League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1944_45|title=1944/1945 Emergency War League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 April 1945|access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref>

===Post-war (1945–1979)===
The club's fortunes that had seen them be successful so rarely the decade previous did not change in the 1940s. After the commitments of the Second World War, St Helens still found it hard to compete, and the trend of finishing as a mid—table side was once more apparent.<ref name="1945/46 National League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1945%2046|title=1945/46 National League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1946|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1946/47 National League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1946%2047|title=1946/47 National League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1947|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1947/48 National League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1947%2048|title=1947/48 National League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1948|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1948/49 National League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1948%2049|title=1948/49 National League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1949|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1949/50 National League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1949%2050|title=1949/50 National League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1950|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref> The first two years of the 1950s, the last two years of Peter Lyons' reign, also ended trophyless.<ref name="1950/51 National League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1950%2051|title=1950/51 National League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1951|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1951/52 National League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1951%2052|title=1951/52 National League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1952|access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref>

The arrival of [[Jim Sullivan (Welsh rugby league)|Jim Sullivan]] as [[Coach (sport)|head coach]] in 1952<ref name="Saints Coaching Register">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php|title=Saints Coaching Register-see General Pages, then Coaches and Others|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 2009|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref> heralded a successful era for St Helens, and helped to establish the club as a respected force in British and eventually world rugby league. Under Sullivan, St Helens reached, and lost, the 1952–53 Challenge Cup final.<ref name="1953 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2549|title=1953 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 April 1953|access-date=11 August 2010}}</ref> They didn't have long to wait for trophies as St Helens won the [[Rugby league county leagues|Lancashire Leagues]], in [[1952–53 Northern Rugby Football League season|1952–53]],<ref name="1952–53 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1951_52|title=1952–53 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 2009|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref> The 1953 Championship final against Halifax was held at Manchester City's Maine Road ground; in front of a crowd of over 50,000, Saints won their second Championship 24–14. They also won the 1953 Lancashire Cup, beating Wigan 16–8 at Swinton, the first time the two old rivals had clashed in a major final, Saints.

Sullivan took Saints to their first victory in the Challenge Cup final (against [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]] in 1956),<ref name="Challenge Cup Role of Honour" /><ref name="1956 Challenge Cup Final Commentary">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=381|title=1956 Challenge Cup Final Commentary|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=11 July 1956|access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> On Saturday 24 November 1956, St Helens inflicted a touring [[Australian national rugby league team|Australia]] its biggest ever defeat with a 44–2 win.<ref name="Jim Sullivan Timeline">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyrelics.com/SW/sports/rl/sullivan.htm|title=Jim Sullivan Timeline|publisher=rugbyrelics.com|date=11 July 2009|access-date=11 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719070020/http://www.rugbyrelics.com/SW/sports/rl/sullivan.htm|archive-date=19 July 2009}}</ref>

The following year saw Saints win the 1956-7 Lancashire League [[1956–57 Northern Rugby Football League season|1956–57]]<ref name="1956–57 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1956_57|title=1956–57 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 2009|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref> and they won it again in [[1958–59 Northern Rugby Football League season|1958–59]].<ref name="1958–59 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1958_59|title=1958–59 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 2009|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref> 
Sullivan's second championship came in 1958–59.<ref name="1958–59 League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1958_59|title=1958–59 League Table |publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 2009|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref> A second [[RFL Lancashire Cup|Lancashire]] [[Rugby league county cups|County Cup]] came in 1960–61,<ref name="1961 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2876|title=1961 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 2009|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref>

[[File:St. Helens home jersey 2010.svg|thumb|120px|The now synonymous red "vee" of St Helens—still used today—was first seen in the 1961 Challenge Cup Final.]]
Ex—St Helens [[Captain (sports)|captain]] and [[Rugby league positions#Prop forward|prop-forward]] [[Alan Prescott]] took over from Jim Sullivan as head coach in 1959.<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" /> Perhaps the golden era of the club came in the 1960s, as well as more lately in the [[History of rugby league#After 1995|Super League era]]. With a galaxy of stars including [[Tom van Vollenhoven]], [[Alex Murphy (rugby league)|Alex Murphy]], [[Dick Huddart]], [[Cliff Watson]], [[Ray French]] and [[Vince Karalius]], the 1960s was a decade of great success for the Saints. In Prescott's first season as coach he lifted the Lancashire League in [[1959–60 Northern Rugby Football League season|the 1959–60 season]].<ref name="1959–60 Lancashire League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1959_60|title=1959–60 Lancashire League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 2009|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref> During this decade, the recognisable 'red vee' strip first appeared in 1961 for the [[Challenge Cup#List of finals|final]] against [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]. St Helens won this epic 12–6,<ref name="Challenge Cup Role of Honour" /><ref name="1961 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2909|title=1961 Challenge Cup Final |publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1961|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref> and the kit has since become synonymous with the club. [[Mick Sullivan]] joined Saints for £11,000, then a record transfer fee.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} They won the Lancashire Cup in the 1961–62 season, with a 25–9 success over [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]] (at [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]]) seeing yet more silverware come St Helens' way under the management of Prescott.<ref name="1962 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2924|title=1962 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=11 November 1961|access-date=6 August 2010}}</ref> After his departure in 1962, [[Stan McCormick]] led the club to retaining the Lancashire Cup in his first year,<ref name="1963 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2968|title=1963 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=27 October 1962|access-date=6 August 2010}}</ref> again beating Swinton; and St Helens made it a quadruplet of Lancashire Cup successes with wins against Leigh in 1964,<ref name="1964 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3010|title=1964 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 October 1963|access-date=6 August 2010}}</ref> and once more Swinton in 1965, the latter success under coach Joe Coan.<ref name="1965 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3056|title=1965 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 October 1964|access-date=6 August 2010}}</ref> St Helens won the Western Division Championship under McCormick's rule, beating Swinton 10–7.<ref name="1964 Western Championship Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3041|title=1964 Western Championship Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=16 May 1964|access-date=12 August 2010}}</ref> St Helens, under coach Joe Coan, lost the 1964–65 Championship final to Halifax at [[Station Road, Swinton]].<ref name="1964/65 Championship Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3086|title=1964/65 Championship Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=22 May 1965|access-date=11 August 2010}}</ref> The 1965 [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] tourists appeared at Knowsley Road on Wednesday 15 September. Saints inflicted a 28–7 defeat on their visitors,<ref name="Saints vs. 1965 New Zealand Tour">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3094|title=Saints vs. 1965 New Zealand Tour |publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1961|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref> their biggest loss of the tour. A [[Rugby Football League Championship|League]]<ref name="1966 League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1965_66|title=1966 League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=11 July 2009|access-date=6 August 2010}}</ref> and [[Challenge Cup|Cup]]<ref name="Challenge Cup Role of Honour" /><ref name="1966 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3134|title=1966 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 July 1966|access-date=1 July 2009}}</ref> double was achieved under Coan in the 1965–66 season, whilst they lost the Floodlit Trophy final against [[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]].<ref name="1966 Floodlit Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3108|title=1966 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=14 December 1965|access-date=6 August 2010}}</ref> St Helens were beaten by [[Wakefield Trinity]] in the 1967 Rugby Football League Championship Final at Station Road, Swinton on 10 May 1967 by 20 points to 9 in a replay,<ref name="1967 Championship Final Replay">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3184|title=1967 Championship Final Replay|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=10 May 1967|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> after a 7–7 draw 4 days earlier.<ref name="1967 Championship Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3181|title=1967 Championship Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=6 May 1967|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> This would be Coan's last year in charge at St Helens after a highly successful period as boss. He was replaced by [[Cliff Evans (rugby league)|Cliff Evans]].

Evans' first full season in charge at the club saw him win the club's eighth Lancashire Cup in 1968; winning 13–10 against Warrington after a replay.<ref name="1968 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3203|title=1968 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=2 December 1968|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> St Helens retained the Lancashire Cup the year later,<ref name="1969 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3247|title=1969 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1968|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> whilst also winning the Lancashire League for being the highest placed Lancashire side in the National standings,<ref name="1968/69 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1968_69|title=1968/69 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1969|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> and they also reached the final of the Floodlit Trophy that season, where they were beaten 7–4 by Wigan.<ref name="1969 Floodlit Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3255|title=1969 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=17 December 1969|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> The 1969–70 season would be the year that Evans would leave his post, but not without winning a National Championship, beating Leeds in the final after finishing third overall.<ref name="1970 Championship Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3328|title=1970 Championship Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=16 May 1970|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref>

The 1970s were also seen as a successful spell for St Helens, as they reached three Challenge Cup finals in the period. [[Jim Challinor]] took over from Cliff Evans in 1970, and in his first season, he won the Championship,<ref name="1970/71 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1970_71|title=1970/71 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1971|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1971 Championship Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3380|title=1971 Championship Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=16 May 1971|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> and reached two finals, the Lancashire Cup and Floodlit Trophy, losing both.<ref name="1971 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3352|title=1971 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=28 November 1970|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1971 Floodlit Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3357|title=1971 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=13 December 1970|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> In this season, a European Championship—not dissimilar to today's [[World Club Challenge]]—was contested between St Helens and French champions [[Saint-Gaudens Bears|St Gaudens]]. Over a two—legged game, St Helens won 92–11 on aggregate.<ref name="1970/71 European Championship Final 1st Leg">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3354|title=1970/71 European Championship Final 1st Leg|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=5 December 1970|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1970/71 European Championship Final 2nd Leg">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3381|title=1970/71 European Championship Final 2nd Leg|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=5 January 1971|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> In their first Challenge Cup Final of the 1970s, they defeated [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] in 1972 16–13,<ref name="Challenge Cup Role of Honour" /><ref name="1972 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3437|title=1972 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 August 1972|access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> in addition to winning their first Floodlit Trophy, after losing out in the final three times before, with an 8–2 win over Rochdale.<ref name="1972 Floodlit Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3408|title=1972 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=14 December 1971|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> The club reached the Championship final in that season, but were beaten.<ref name="1972 Championship Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3438|title=1972 Championship Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=20 May 1972|access-date=11 August 2010}}</ref> No success was achieved in seasons 1972–73 and 1973–74, with St Helens finishing third and second in the respective years.<ref name="1972/73 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1972%2073|title=1972/73 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1973|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1973/74 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1973%2074|title=1973/74 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1974|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> This could be a possible reason for Jim Challinor's replacement with [[Eric Ashton]] as head coach.<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" /> In Ashton's first season in charge, St Helens won the Championship,<ref name="1974/75 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1974%2075|title=1974/75 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1975|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> and contested the inaugural [[Rugby League Premiership|Premiership]] Final, losing 26–11 to Leeds.<ref name="1975 Premiership Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3577|title=1975 Premiership Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=17 May 1975|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> They repeated their first Challenge Cup success of the 1970s three years after the first against [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] in 1976 where they were victorious by 20–5 in the famous 'Dads Army' final.<ref name="Challenge Cup Role of Honour" /><ref name="1976 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3626|title=1976 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 August 1976|access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> They also won the Premiership against [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]],<ref name="1976 Premiership Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3629|title=1976 Premiership Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=22 May 1976|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> and the Floodlit Trophy against [[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]] in a successful season.<ref name="1976 Floodlit Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3597|title=1976 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=16 December 1975|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> In the same year, St Helens lost to [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]] in an unofficial World Club Challenge Final by 25 points to 2.<ref name="1976 World Club Challenge">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4430|title=1976 World Club Challenge|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=29 June 1976|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> The club won the Premiership in 1977,<ref name="1977 Premiership Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3674|title=1977 Premiership Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=28 May 1977|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> but, on 13 December 1977, Saints lost 26–11 to [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] in the final of the [[BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]].<ref name="1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3695|title=1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=13 December 1977|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> In 1978 Leeds avenged their 1972 loss against St Helens, emerging winners by 14–12.<ref name="Challenge Cup Role of Honour" /><ref name="1978 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3723|title=1978 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 August 1978|access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> St Helens lost the Floodlit Trophy in the 1978–79 season, going down to Widnes.<ref name="1979 Floodlit Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3745|title=1979 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=12 December 1978|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> The 1979–80 season was unsuccessful, with St Helens finishing mid—table.<ref name="1979/80 League Tables">{{cite web|url= http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1979_80|title=1979/80 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1980|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> Eric Ashton left the club after this disappointing year.<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" />

===The 1980s, and early to mid-1990s===
Former club player and Welsh international [[Kel Coslett]] took over as coach in June 1980.<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" /><ref name="Kel Coslett Bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=15112|title=Kel Coslett Bio|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 July 2009|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> However, his spell as coach was not nearly as successful as his spell as a player, and St Helens won nothing whilst under Coslett's command, finishing mid-table in both seasons.<ref name="1980/81 League Tables">{{cite web|url= http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1980%81|title=1980/81 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1981|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1981/82 League Tables">{{cite web|url= http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1981%82|title=1981/82 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1982|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> He held the post for two years before handing over to [[Billy Benyon]].<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" /><ref name="Billy Benyon Bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=14897|title=Billy Benyon Bio|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 July 2009|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> Not in-keeping with several of his predecessors, Benyon did not enjoy any success in his first season as St Helens coach, losing the Lancashire Cup final of that year to Warrington.<ref name="1983 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3899|title=1983 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=23 December 1982|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> Nothing was won in the 1983–84 season,<ref name="1983/84 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1983_84|title=1983/84 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1984|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> but Saints won back the Lancashire Cup, with a 26–18 win at Wigan in the 1984–85 season.<ref name="1985 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3980|title=1985 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=28 October 1984|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> They also won the [[Rugby League Premiership|Premiership]] in the same season with a 36–16 victory over defending champions Hull Kingston Rovers at [[Elland Road]] in [[Leeds]]. The 1984–85 season saw the arrival (for one season only) of giant Australian international centre [[Mal Meninga]] who quickly became a crowd favourite at Knowsley Road.<ref name="1985 Premiership Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4010|title=1985 Premiership Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=11 May 1985|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> In Benyon's last season as coach, 1985–86, nothing was won.<ref name="1985/86 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1985%2086|title=1985/86 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1986|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref>

The arrival of [[Alex Murphy (rugby league)|Alex Murphy]] as coach in 1986<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" /><ref name="Alex Murphy Bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=16031|title=Alex Murphy Bio|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 July 2009|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> produced some colourful displays from a team that was widely regarded as an entertaining team to watch, but seemed to be constant runners-up. This was illustrated by the defeat by [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]] in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, 19–18, in 1987.<ref name="1987 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4095|title=1987 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=2 May 1987|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> Success was achieved in 1988 when St Helens lifted their one and only [[League Cup (rugby league)|John Player Trophy]] with a 15–14 victory over Leeds in January 1988, at [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]].<ref name="1988 John Player Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4115|title=1988 John Player Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=9 January 1988|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> [[Neil Holding]] with the crucial, match-winning [[Playing rugby league#Point scoring|drop-goal]]. They, however, lost to Widnes in the Premiership Final at [[Old Trafford (football ground)|Old Trafford]] at the end of the season, further showing this team's ability to get to finals and not be able to compete on the best stage.<ref name="1988 Premiership Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4135|title=1988 Premiership Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 May 1988|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> Nothing was achieved in the next two seasons,<ref name="1988/89 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1988%2089|title=1988/89 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1990|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1989/90 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1989%2090|title=1989/90 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1990|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> including a defeat in the 1989 Challenge Cup Final<ref name="1989 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4172|title=1989 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=29 April 1989|access-date=11 August 2010}}</ref> and Murphy stood down as coach.

Murphy was succeeded by [[Mike McClennan]] in February 1990.<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" /> In his first season, McClennan took St Helens to the 1991 Challenge Cup Final, where they were defeated by 13 points to 8 by Wigan.<ref name="1991 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=437|title=1991 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=27 April 1991|access-date=7 July 2010}}</ref> They won the Lancashire Cup, in the 1991–92 season, beating [[Rochdale Hornets]].<ref name="1992 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=429|title=1992 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 May 1991|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> They also lost the Premiership Final that season, losing to Wigan.<ref name="1992 Premiership Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=398|title=1992 Premiership Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=17 May 1992|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> In 1993 the club avenged their defeat by Wigan the season previous to win the Premiership,<ref name="1993 Premiership Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=358|title=1993 Premiership Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 May 1993|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> in the same season that they won the [[Rugby League Charity Shield (Great Britain)|Charity Shield]],<ref name="1993 Charity Shield">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=397|title=1993 Charity Shield|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=23 August 1992|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> and lost the Lancashire Cup final.<ref name="1993 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=387|title=1993 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=18 October 1992|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> McClennan was head coach until December 1993, when [[Eric Hughes (rugby, born 1950)|Eric Hughes]] succeeded him as head coach in 1994.<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" /> Under Hughes, St Helens only reached the one, Regal Trophy Final, where they lost to Wigan in 1996 by 25 to 16.<ref name="1996 Regal Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=258|title=1996 Regal Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=13 January 1996|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> They finished fourth in both of Hughes' seasons in charge.<ref name="1994/95 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1994%2095|title=1994/95 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1995|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="1995/96 League Tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1995%2096|title=1995/96 League Tables|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=25 October 1996|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> The lack of trophies in the St Helens cabinet, after the club had suddenly become so accustomed to success, would need to change in the "new" brand [[Super League]] that formed in 1996; hence Hughes' departure in 1996 and replacement with Australian [[Shaun McRae]].<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" />

===Summer era===

Following on from their most constant ambition for successes, first experienced really in the 1960s, Saints became one of the most successful side of the [[History of rugby league#After 1995|summer era]]. Since the inception of [[Super League]] in 1996, they have won the title on eight occasions, and have added seven [[Challenge Cup]]s to their five previous successes. Indeed, they won the [[Super League I|inaugural Super League]], albeit by finishing top of the league before the play—off era. St Helens defeated [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford]] 8–6 in the [[1999 Super League Grand Final]], their first Grand Final, with more than 50,000 people witnessing [[Chris Joynt]] lift the trophy at Old Trafford.<ref name="1999 Super League Grand Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=124|title=1999 Super League Grand Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=9 October 1999|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> They also won the [[World Club Challenge]] in [[2001 World Club Challenge|2001]] and [[2007 World Club Challenge|2007]], beating [[Brisbane Broncos|Brisbane]] both times.<ref name="2001 World Club Challenge">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=89|title=2001 World Club Challenge|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 January 2001|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="St Helens 18-14 Brisbane Broncos World Club Challenge">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/6378807.stm|title=St Helens vs. Brisbane As It Happened|publisher=BBC|date=23 February 2007|access-date=11 July 2009|first=Phil|last=Harlow}}</ref> In 2023 they then beat Penrith Panthers 13–12 in Australia to win it for a third time. 

====Late 1990s====
The success of the Saints in Super League began under the leadership of [[Shaun McRae]] in 1996. During his tenure the club won one league title ([[Super League I|1996]]),<ref name="1996 Super League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1996|title=1996 Super League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=9 October 1999|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> a year in which he was named Super League's coach of the year, and enjoyed back—to—back successes over Bradford in the Challenge Cup (1996<ref name="1996 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=247|title=1996 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=27 April 1996|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> and 1997<ref name="1997 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=214|title=1997 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=3 May 1996|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref>). St Helens lost consecutive Premiership finals to Wigan in 1996,<ref name="1996 Premiership Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=227|title=1996 Premiership Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=8 September 1996|access-date=12 August 2010}}</ref> and 1997.<ref name="1997 Premiership Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=190|title=1997 Premiership Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=28 September 1997|access-date=12 August 2010}}</ref> 1998 proved to be a trophyless year,<ref name="1998 Super League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=1998|title=1998 Super League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=9 October 1998|access-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> and [[Ellery Hanley]] succeeded McRae in 1999, after the Australian left for new Super League side [[Gateshead Thunder (1999)|Gateshead]].<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" /> Hanley led Saints to [[1999 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]] success against Bradford in October of his first year in charge.<ref name="1999 Super League Grand Final" /> Hanley was considered by many to be a polarising figure and after several acrimonious disagreements with the St Helens board of directors, he was sacked a month into the [[Super League V|following season]].<ref name="Hanley Appointed Doncaster Coach">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7144151.stm|title=Hanley Appointed Doncaster Coach|publisher=BBC|date=14 December 2007|access-date=14 December 2007}}</ref> [[Ian Millward]] was appointed as Hanley's successor as head coach.<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" />

====2000s====

=====Millward's reign and a controversial sacking (2000–2005)=====
[[File:St Helens 2001.jpg|thumb|170px|right|St. Helens defeated Wigan Warriors in the [[2000 Super League Grand Final]].]]

Under Millward, St Helens quickly became the most exciting team in the competition, playing expansive, attacking rugby. He saw them soundly beaten in the [[2000 World Club Challenge]], losing 44–6 to [[Melbourne Storm|Melbourne]],<ref name="2000 World Club Challenge">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=121|title=2000 World Club Challenge|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 January 2000|access-date=20 July 2009}}</ref> but lead them to retaining their Super League title in [[2000 Super League Grand Final|2000]] beating [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] 29–16.<ref name="Super League IV Grand Final">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/photo_galleries/972794.stm|title=Super League IV Grand Final|publisher=BBC|date=14 October 2000|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> They also won the [[Challenge Cup]] in 2001; 13–6 over Bradford,<ref name="2001 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=77|title=2001 Challenge Cup Final Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=28 April 2001|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> with the final held at [[Twickenham Stadium]] for the first time,<ref name="RFL Remains Bullish on Twickenham">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/4864638.stm|title=RFL Remains Bullish on Twickenham|publisher=BBC|date=8 March 2006|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> and the [[2001 World Club Challenge]], earning a 20–18 win over the Broncos.<ref name="2001 World Club Challenge"/><ref name="World Club Challenge">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/6380851.stm|title=World Club Challenge Chris Joynt|publisher=BBC|date=22 February 2007|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> Millward then lead Saints to the top of [[Super League VII]], and to reclaim the Super League title in the [[2002 Super League Grand Final|2002 Grand Final]],<ref name="Super League VII Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=2002|title=Super League VII Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 September 2002|access-date=12 August 2010}}</ref> [[Sean Long]] snatching a last minute 19–18 win over the [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford]] with a [[Playing rugby league#Point scoring|drop—goal]].<ref name="2002 Super League Grand Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=17|title=2002 Super League Grand Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=19 October 2002|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> They lost the 2002 Challenge Cup Final to Wigan at [[Murrayfield Stadium]] by 21 points to 12.<ref name="2002 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=41|title=2002 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=27 April 2002|access-date=11 August 2010}}</ref> They were hammered in the [[2003 World Club Challenge]] by [[Sydney Roosters|Sydney]] by 38 points to 0.<ref name="2003 World Club Challenge">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=15|title=2003 World Club Challenge|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=14 February 2003|access-date=20 July 2009}}</ref> In this season, they failed to win a trophy after being knocked out of the Challenge Cup by Leeds at the semi—final stage, and the Super League play—offs by Wigan at the same stage. In 2004 they beat arch—rivals Wigan 32–16 at the [[Millennium Stadium]], [[Cardiff]] in front of a capacity crowd of 73,734 people to win the Challenge Cup,<ref name="2004 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4509|title=2004 Challenge Cup Final Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 May 2004|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> Long gaining his second of an eventual three [[Lance Todd Trophy|Lance Todd Trophies]].<ref name="Lance Todd Trophy Winners">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/4169864.stm|title=Lance Todd Trophy Winners|publisher=BBC|date=26 August 2006|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref>

Millward's reign was not without controversy and his St Helens career ended controversially after he was suspended in May 2005.<ref name="Millward Suspended For Swearing">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/st_helens/4515515.stm|title=Millward Suspended For Swearing|publisher=BBC|date=6 May 2005|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> He was sacked for gross misconduct a week later.<ref name="Boss Millward Sacked By St Helens">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/st_helens/4527831.stm|title=Boss Millward Sacked By St Helens|publisher=BBC|date=10 May 2005|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> Daniel Anderson was appointed as coach,<ref name="Saints Coaching Register" /> Millward was then made coach of archrivals Wigan.<ref name="Millward Appointed Coach of Wigan">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/wigan/4570497.stm|title=Millward Appointed Coach of Wigan|publisher=BBC|date=22 May 2005|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref>

=====The Anderson era (2005–2008)=====

[[File:St Helens 2006 CCF.jpg|thumb|St Helens lifting the Challenge Cup trophy after the [[2006 Challenge Cup|2006]] Final]]

Daniel Anderson saw his new team become the first team to top the [[Super League]] and fail to reach [[Old Trafford (football ground)|Old Trafford]] in 2005.<ref name="2005 Super League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=2005|title=2005 Super League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=9 October 2005|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="2005 Super League Play-offs Final Eliminator">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4568|title=2005 Super League Play-offs Final Eliminator|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=7 October 2005|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> However,
St Helens won the [[2006 Challenge Cup]] Final at [[Twickenham Stadium]], beating [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]] 42–12.<ref name="St Helens 42-12 Huddersfield">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/5271814.stm|title=St Helens 42–12 Huddersfield |publisher=BBC|date=26 August 2006|access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> [[Rugby league positions#Scrum half|Scrum-half]] Sean Long was awarded the [[Lance Todd trophy]] for a record third time for his man—of—the—match performance during the final.<ref name="Lance Todd Trophy Winners" />

St Helens followed up their Challenge Cup win by claiming the [[League Leader's Shield]],<ref name="2006 Super League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=2006|title=2006 Super League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=9 October 2006|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> before cementing their reputation as the team of the year by defeating Hull 26 points to 4 in the [[2006 Super League Grand Final|Super League Grand Final]].<ref name="St Helens 26-4 Hull FC">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6046328.stm|title=St Helens 26–4 Hull FC|publisher=BBC|date=6 October 2006|access-date=8 July 2008}}</ref> Once more St Helens confirmed their status as the outstanding team of the summer era. Additionally, [[Paul Wellens]] received the [[Man of Steel Award]] for the 2006 season.<ref name="Wellens Wins Man of Steel Award">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/4169864.stm|title=Wellens Wins Man of Steel Award|publisher=BBC|date=9 August 2006|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref>

In December 2006 St Helens were awarded with the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Team Award]] at the Annual [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] Ceremony. This accolade recognises the best team in any sport within the United Kingdom. At the same ceremony [[Daniel Anderson (rugby league)|Daniel Anderson]] was given the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award]] – this was the first time a rugby league coach had won the award.<ref name="St Helens Win Sports Personality of the Year Team Award">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/6220542.stm|title=Sports Personality Winners 2006|publisher=BBC|date=10 December 2006|access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref>

After a slow start to the [[Super League XII|2007 season]], Saints added to their history by beating [[Brisbane Broncos|Brisbane]] 18–14 to win the [[2007 World Club Challenge]].<ref name="St Helens 18-14 Brisbane Broncos World Club Challenge" /> 
{| class="toccolours" 
! {{fontcolor|Red|St Helens 2007 World Club Championship winning team}}
|-
|align=centre|<div style="background:white;border:thin red solid">
{|
|-----
|'''8''' Nick Fozzard (PR)
|
|'''14''' James Roby (HK)
|
|'''10''' Jason Cayless (PR)
|-----
|
|'''11''' Lee Gilmour (SR)
|
|'''15''' Mike Bennett (SR)
|-----
|
|
|'''12''' Jon Wilkin (LF)
|
||
|-----
| colspan=7 |
|-----
|| 
|'''7''' Sean Long (SH)
|-----
|
|| ||
|'''6''' Leon Pryce (SO)
|-----
|
|| || ||
|'''4''' Willie Talau (CE)
|-----
|
|| || || ||
|'''3''' Matt Gidley (CE)
|-----
|'''5''' Francis Meli (WG)
|
|| || || ||
|'''2''' Ade Gardner (WG)
|-----
|
|| ||
|'''1''' Paul Wellens (FB)
|-----
|Substitutes
|-
|'''9''' Keiron Cunningham (HK)
|-
|'''18''' Bryn Hargreaves (PR)
|-
|'''13''' Paul Sculthorpe (LF)
|-
|'''17''' James Graham (PR)
|}
</div>
|}

In July, they beat Super League rivals, [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford]],<ref name="2007 Challenge Cup Semi-Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4633|title=2007 Challenge Cup Semi-Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=28 July 2007|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> to reach the first Challenge Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium.<ref name="Challenge Cup Returns To Wembley">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/6503783.stm|title=Challenge Cup Returns To Wembley|publisher=BBC|date=28 March 2007|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> Here, St Helens successfully defended their Challenge Cup by defeating [[Catalans Dragons]] 30–8 in the [[2007 Challenge Cup Final|final]] on 25 August 2007.<ref name="St Helens 30-8 Catalans Dragons 2007 Challenge Cup">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/6962139.stm|title=St Helens vs. Catalans As It Happened FC|publisher=BBC|date=25 August 2008|access-date=11 July 2009|first=Rob|last=Hodgetts}}</ref> They were beaten in the [[2007 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final that year]] by [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] by 33 points to 6,<ref name="St Helens 6-33 Leeds Rhinos">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7043251.stm|title=St Helens 6–33 Leeds Rhinos|publisher=BBC|date=13 October 2007|access-date=8 July 2008|first=Elizabeth|last=Hudson}}</ref> despite finishing at the top of the [[Super League XII#Table|league ladder]] for the third successive season.<ref name="2007 Super League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=2007|title=2007 Super League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=9 October 2007|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> [[James Roby]], however, became the second St Helens player, and home—grown talent in two years to win the Man of Steel Award.

Saints success in the Challenge Cup continued in [[2008 Challenge Cup Final|2008]] with a victory at the new [[Wembley Stadium]], this time defeating [[Hull F.C.]] 28–16.<ref name="St Helens 28-16 Hull FC">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7585584.stm|title=St Helens 28–16 Hull FC|publisher=BBC|date=30 August 2008|access-date=8 July 2008|first=Pranav|last=Soneji}}</ref> Paul Wellens received the [[Lance Todd Trophy]] after sharing the award with team-mate [[Leon Pryce]] the year earlier.<ref name="Lance Todd Trophy Winners" />

They also achieved first place again in the [[Super League XIII|2008 Super League]] season—for the fourth year running<ref name="2008 Super League Table">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=24&tabledate=2008|title=2008 Super League Table|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=9 October 2008|access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref>—winning the [[League Leaders Shield]], and beat Leeds 38–10 for the right to go to Old Trafford to contest the Grand Final.<ref name="2008 Super League Play-offs Qualifying Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4676|title=2008 Super League Play-offs Qualifying Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=4 October 2008|access-date=8 July 2008}}</ref> However, St Helens were once again defeated by Leeds in the [[2008 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]], by a margin of 24 to 16, on 4 October 2008.<ref name="St Helens 16-24 Leeds Rhinos">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7652600.stm|title=St Helens 16–24 Leeds Rhinos|publisher=BBC|date=4 October 2008|access-date=8 July 2008|first=Sam|last=Lyon}}</ref> [[James Graham (rugby league)|James Graham]], on a positive note, made it a hat—trick of ex—Blackbrook Royals to win the Man of Steel Award whilst playing for St Helens. This would be Anderson's last game in charge of the club, as he announced he was to return to Australia and the [[Parramatta Eels]] of the [[National Rugby League|NRL]]. St Helens fans and players alike were saddened to see Anderson leave, after not only upholding the tradition of St Helens exciting brand of rugby, but giving them a defensive and disciplined edge that was never apparent under Ian Millward. His personality and relationship with the fans was an additional reason why St Helens fans were disgruntled in him leaving after four years in charge and why next boss [[Michael Potter|Mick Potter]] faced a fair amount of criticism in his initial period as boss.

=====The Potter years (2009–2010)=====
[[File:Widnes Vikings vs St Helens Karalius Cup 2010 002.JPG|thumb|right|200px|St Helens against [[Widnes Vikings]] in the pre-season 2010 Karalius Cup]]

Mick Potter was announced as the successor to Anderson, which received many plaudits from the St. Helens fans and the European game as a whole, as the year previous he had led the [[Catalans Dragons]] to a record—high third—placed finish in the league. On 9 August 2009, St Helens reached a record ninth consecutive [[Challenge Cup]] semi—final,<ref name="Cup Venues Announced">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12214_5359870,00.html|title=Cup Venues Announced|publisher=skysports.com|date=2 June 2009|access-date=10 August 2009}}</ref> where they were beaten by 24 points to 14 by the [[Huddersfield Giants]].<ref name="Saints vs. Huddersfield Challenge Cup">{{cite web|url=http://saintsrlfc.com/results/120|title=St Helens vs. Huddersfield CC match report|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=9 August 2009|access-date=10 August 2009}}</ref> This prevented Saints from reaching the final at the [[Wembley Stadium|new Wembley Stadium]] for a third successive time and from winning the cup for a fourth time running. This defeat naturally came as a shock to the St Helens faithful, after so often in the last 15 years seeing the team reach the pinnacle of this competition and go on to win the cup. It was from here that the criticism began, and questions were raised particularly of his tactics and his activity (or lack of) in the transfer market.

On 3 October 2009, Saints defeated fierce rivals the Wigan Warriors to book their place at a fourth consecutive [[Super League Grand Final]],<ref name="Saints vs. Wigan Play-Off">{{cite web|url=http://superleague.co.uk/report.php?id=3202308|title=St Helens vs. Wigan P-O match report|publisher=engagesuperleague.co.uk|date=3 October 2009|access-date=3 October 2009}}</ref>
only to lose out to the Leeds Rhinos in the final, 18–10, making the Leeds Rhinos the only team to win the Grand Final three times consecutively. A 20-year-old [[Kyle Eastmond]] scored all of Saints' points.<ref name="St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/8290503.stm|title=St Helens 10–18 Leeds Rhinos|publisher=BBC|date=10 October 2009|access-date=21 October 2009}}</ref> A trophyless year for the first time since 2003 was another catalyst to Potter's critics abusing and slating his appointment, with even rumours of rifts within the changing rooms.

====2010s====
[[File:James Roby Saints.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[James Roby]] in 2010]]
2010 was the year that saw Potter surrender to his critics and leave St. Helens. Criticisms from club legends like Paul Sculthorpe and Sean Long regarding his personal skills with the fans,<ref name="Long - Potter exit no shock">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12206_6148818,00.html|title=Long – Potter exit no shock|publisher=skysports.com|date=12 May 2010|access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref> as well as the continued fan rejection saw him let his contract run out and, initially, seek a job in the NRL,<ref name="Change of scenery for Potter">{{cite web|url=http://superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17560|title=Change of scenery for Potter|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=4 May 2010|access-date=15 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120034707/http://superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17560|archive-date=20 January 2012}}</ref><ref name="Gidley empathises with Potter">{{cite web|url=http://superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17573|title=Gidley empathises with Potter|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=5 May 2010|access-date=15 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507005947/http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17573|archive-date=7 May 2010}}</ref><ref name="Long not surprised by Potter exit">{{cite web|url=http://superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17654|title=Long not surprised by Potter exit|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=12 May 2010|access-date=15 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118171313/http://superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17654|archive-date=18 January 2012}}</ref> but eventually, and perhaps surprisingly, join Bradford on a two—year contract.<ref name="Potter lands Bradford Bulls job">{{cite web|url=http://superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=18413|title=Potter lands Bradford Bulls job|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=16 July 2010|access-date=16 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120132833/http://superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=18413|archive-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> Names like [[Royce Simmons]],<ref name="Royce Simmons the surprising front-runner to take over at St Helens">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jun/28/rugby-league-st-helens-coach|title=Royce Simmons the surprising front-runner to take over at St Helens|work=guardian|date=28 June 2010|access-date=12 July 2010 | location=London | first=Andy | last=Wilson}}</ref> [[Mal Meninga]],<ref name="Meninga 'would consider' Saints">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12206_6184167,00.html|title=Meninga 'would consider' Saints|publisher=skysports.com|date=1 June 2010|access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref> and assistant coach [[Kieron Purtill]],<ref name="Purtill waits on Saints job">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12206_6239158,00.html|title=Purtill waits on Saints job|publisher=skysports.com|date=30 June 2010|access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref> were linked with the job for 2011. Simmons was the chosen man for the job, as announced on 22 July 2010.<ref name="Saints Appoint Royce Simmons">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2698|title=Saints Appoint Royce Simmons|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=22 July 2010|access-date=22 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="Simmons to coach Saints">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12206_6274263,00.html|title=Simmons to coach Saints|publisher=skysports.com|date=22 July 2010|access-date=22 July 2010}}</ref> The 2010 season would also see legendary hooker and captain Keiron Cunningham retire from the game after 17 years with his one and only club. However, Cunningham would not be leaving without leaving a lasting legacy on the club. A lifelike bronze statue of Cunningham was built and placed on display in the town, before being transported to the club's new stadium upon its construction in 2012.<ref name="Cunningham is Man of Bronze">{{cite web|url=http://sthelensnews.blogspot.com/2007/12/kieron-cunningham-is-voted-man-of.html|title=Cunningham is Man of Bronze|publisher=sthelensnews.com|date=4 June 2008|access-date=8 July 2008}}</ref><ref name="Cunningham Finds Permanent Place With His Saints">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/feb/08/keiron-cunningham-st-helens-rugby-super-league|title=Cunningham Finds Permanent Place With His Saints|publisher=The Guardian Newspaper|date=8 February 2008|access-date=8 July 2008 | location=London | first=David | last=Lawrenson}}</ref> He would additionally take up a coaching role with the academy, as well as a strength and conditioning role with the first team.<ref name="Saints Appoint Royce Simmons" /> In light of these decisions, neither Cunningham nor Potter halted their personal and the St Helens team quest for success; shown by their tenth successive semi—final appearance in the [[2010 Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]].<ref name="Potter: Semi-final Continues Saints Success">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2573|title=Potter: Semi-final Continues Saints Success|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=15 June 2010|access-date=15 June 2010}}</ref> However, Saints failure to perform on the big stage was once more shown, going down in this semi—final by 32–28.<ref name="Saints' Final Hopes Dashed By Rhinos">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2728|title=Saints' Final Hopes Dashed By Rhinos|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=7 August 2010|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref> Defeating Huddersfield Giants in the qualifying semi—final in the [[2010 Super League season results#Play-offs|2010 play-off series]] by 42–22 not only saw Saints qualify for their fifth Grand Final in five years, but also saw the final ever game to be played at Knowsley Road. Fittingly, Cunningham snatched the final ever try at the famous old ground in typical fashion from dummy—half.<ref name="St Helens 42-22 Huddersfield Giants">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/results/168|title=St Helens 42–22 Huddersfield Giants|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=24 September 2010|access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref> However, for the fourth year running, St Helens once more proved flops in the [[2010 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]]. One of the finest finals of the Super League era was anticipated,<ref name="Too close to call">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12198_6418143,00.html|title=Too close to call|publisher=Sky Sports|date=1 October 2010|access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref> but the flamboyant Saints that the fans saw so rarely under Potter once more failed to materialise, and, in front of a near sell—out crowd of 71,526, they fell to a 22–10 loss to rivals Wigan.<ref name="Warriors too good for Saints">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugbyleague/match_report/0,19936,11070_3326090,00.html|title=Warriors too good for Saints|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2 October 2010|access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref> It was not the romantic finish to the Saints careers of Potter, Cunningham or any of the departing members of the squad that many had hoped for, but nevertheless, a new era was just around the corner, as Simmons' reign began.

=====Beginning of a new era (2011–2018)=====
{{Update section|date=August 2017}}
Australian [[Royce Simmons]] took over from compatriot Mick Potter for the start of the 2011 season. As the club awaited completion of the new stadium, all home fixtures in 2011 were played at the [[Halton Stadium]] in [[Widnes]], effectively meaning St Helens were forced to play an entire season of away fixtures. In addition, they suffered upheaval in terms of the playing squad; having already lost the influential Cunningham to retirement and other club legends like Sean Long, the start of the season was overshadowed by the news that [[Kyle Eastmond]], who had been earmarked as Long's replacement, and inspirational leader [[James Graham (rugby league)|James Graham]] were both looking to leave the club. A number of serious injuries to further key players such as [[Leon Pryce]] and [[Ade Gardner]] meant the team was facing an uphill battle on the field all season. However, despite all the problems faced, St Helens defied the odds to reach their 11th Challenge Cup semi-final in a row, and at the end of the season they qualified for their sixth consecutive Grand Final. However, for the fifth year in a row they were on the losing side, as the injury-plagued squad finally succumbed to Leeds. However, the 2011 season saw the emergence of a new crop of talent, with players such as [[Jonny Lomax]] and [[Lee Gaskell]] stepping up to fill the gaps left by senior players and earning rave reviews for their performances.{{According to whom|date=April 2017}}

In 2012, the club moved into their new home at [[Langtree Park]]. However, the season started with a terrible run of results, which culminated in Royce Simmons being sacked in March. With assistant coach [[Kieron Purtill]] also leaving, the coaching [[Rein#In popular expression|reins]] were taken up by youth coach Mike Rush for the remainder of the 2012 season, with Keiron Cunningham acting as his assistant. Following St Helens's defeat by Wigan in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup, which ended a run of 11 consecutive semi-final appearances, it was announced that [[Nathan Brown (rugby league born 1973)|Nathan Brown]] would be taking over as head coach for 2013, with Rush moving back into his previous role.

At the end of the [[Super League XIX]] regular season, St Helens claimed the [[League Leaders' Shield]] and reached the [[2014 Super League Grand Final]] against Wigan where they won the match 14–6 claiming their 13th premiership.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/11/st-helens-wigan-super-league-grand-final-match-report/|title=St Helens win Grand Final after Wigan's Ben Flower is sent off|website=The Guardian|date=11 October 2014}}</ref>

In the [[Super League XXIII]] season, St Helens claimed the [[League Leader's Shield]] and [[Ben Barba]] who had joined the club that year won the [[Man of Steel Awards|Man of Steel]] award. St Helens were favourites to reach another grand final but were upset in the preliminary final by Warrington 18–13 at Langtree Park.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/45721728|title=Super League semi-final: Warrington beat St Helens 18–13 to reach Grand Final|work=BBC Sport|date=4 October 2018}}</ref>

During the [[Super League XXIV]] season, St Helens reached the [[Challenge Cup]] final against Warrington but lost the match 18–4 at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/49436134|title=Warrington Wolves beat St Helens 18–4|work=BBC Sport|date=24 August 2019}}</ref>

===== The "Four-Peat" and World Club Challenge =====
At the end of the [[Super League XXIV]] regular season, St Helens won the [[League Leader's Shield]] for a second consecutive year after finished 16 points clear of second placed [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11777123/st-helens-win-2019-super-league-league-leaders-shield/|title=St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield|website=Sky Sports}}</ref> St Helens would go on to reach the [[2019 Super League Grand Final]] at [[Old Trafford]] against [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]. St Helens won the match 23–6 securing their 14th championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/oct/12/st-helens-v-salford-red-devils-super-league-grand-final-live/|title=St Helens 23–6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened|website=The Guardian|date=12 October 2019|last1=Unwin|first1=Will}}</ref>

At the end of the 2020 season, St Helens finished second behind league leaders Wigan.  After easily accounting for [[Catalans Dragons]] in the semi-final, St Helens played against Wigan in the [[2020 Super League Grand Final]].  With only seconds remaining and with the scores locked at 4–4, St Helens scored a try after the siren through Jack Welsby to win back to back championships in the most dramatic of circumstances.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55072997|title=Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4–8 St Helens|work=BBC Sport }}</ref>

On 17 July 2021, St. Helens won the Challenge Cup for the first time in 13 years beating Castleford in the final 26–12.  St. Helens had trailed the match at half-time 12–6.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-celebrate-challenge-cup-21081897/|title=How St Helens players have celebrated their first Challenge Cup win in 13 years|website=www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk|access-date=18 July 2021|archive-date=18 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718102540/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-celebrate-challenge-cup-21081897|url-status=dead}}</ref>
St Helens finished the [[2021 Super League season]] in second place on the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12204/12415081/barrie-mcdermotts-2021-betfred-super-league-season-review/|title=Barrie McDermott's 2021 Betfred Super League season review|website=www.skysports.com}}</ref> They then went on to defeat [[Catalan Dragons]] 12–10 in a hotly-contested Grand Final, securing the club's first league and cup double since 2006 and an historic 'three-peat' – becoming only the second team in the summer era to win three consecutive championships.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58858850|title=Super League Grand Final: Catalans Dragons 10–12 St Helens: Saints win three in a row|work=BBC Sport }}</ref>

St Helens ended the [[Super League XXVII|2022]] regular season as League Leaders, thus earning them a bye to the semi-finals.  They beat Salford 19–12, to reach their 4th consecutive Grand Final.  They faced [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] in the [[2022 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]], after Leeds beat Catalans in the eliminators, and Wigan in the semi-final.  St Helens won the match 24–12, to win their fourth final in a row, and by doing so, they become the first team in Super League history to win four in a row.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/24/st-helens-leeds-super-league-grand-final-match-report-rugby-league/|title=St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final|newspaper=The Observer|date=24 September 2022 |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron }}</ref>

Before the start of the 2023 Super League season, St Helens travelled to Australia for the [[2023 World Club Challenge]]. A week before the match, St Helens played one pre-season trial fixture against [[St. George Illawarra]] which St Helens won 30–18 at [[WIN Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61402/st-helens-win-battle-of-the-red-v-against-st-george-illawarra-dragons/|title=St Helens win 'Battle of the Red V' against St George Illawarra Dragons|website=www.rugby-league.com}}</ref>
In the week leading up to the World Club Challenge game against [[Penrith Panthers|Penrith]], many pundits, former players and coaches predicted St Helens would lose the match heavily with [[Phil Gould (rugby league)|Phil Gould]] stating "Penrith should be allowed to declare at half-time". St Helens would go on to win the World Club Challenge game 13–12 in golden point extra-time to claim their third trophy in the competition. St Helens had led the match 12–0 until a late try by Penrith took the game into extra-time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/18/st-helens-defeat-penrith-panthers-to-win-world-club-challenge#:~:text=Phil%20%E2%80%9CGus%E2%80%9D%20Gould%2C%20the,s%5D%20to%20the%20punch%20early./|title=Penrith Panthers lick their wounds after World Club Challenge loss to St Helens|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 February 2023 }}</ref>

{| class="toccolours" 
! {{fontcolor|Red|St Helens 2023 World Club Championship winning team}}
|-
|align=centre|<div style="background:white;border:thin red solid">
{|
|-----
|'''8''' Matty Lees (PR)
|
|'''14''' James Roby (HK)
|
|'''10''' Alex Walmsley (PR)
|-----
|
|'''11''' Sione Matau'tia (SR)
|
|'''16''' Curtis Sironen (SR)
|-----
|
|
|'''13''' Morgan Knowles (LF)
|
||
|-----
| colspan=7 |
|-----
|| 
|'''7''' Lewis Dodd (SH)
|-----
|
|| ||
|'''6''' Jonny Lomax (SO)
|-----
|
|| || ||
|'''4''' Mark Percival (CE)
|-----
|
|| || || ||
|'''23''' Konrad Hurrell (CE)
|-----
|'''3''' Will Hopoate (WG)
|
|| || || ||
|'''2''' Tommy Makinson (WG)
|-----
|
|| ||
|'''1''' Jack Welsby (FB)
|-----
|Substitutes
|-
|'''14''' Joey Lussick (HK)
|-
|'''15''' Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook (PR)
|-
|'''17''' Agnatius Paasi (PR)
|-
|'''18''' Jake Wingfield (LF)
|-
|'''19''' James Bell (SR)
|}
</div>
|}

===== Post 2023 World Club Challenge =====
In the [[2023 Super League season]], St Helens finished third on the table equal on points with league leaders Wigan and the Catalans Dragons. In the elimination playoff, the club defeated Warrington which set up a match with Catalans at the Stade Gilbert Brutus. St Helens lead the match until the final minute when Catalans player Sam Tomkins scored a try underneath the posts to win the match for Catalans and end St Helens four-year dominance of the competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/23856044.paul-wellens-q-saints-review-year-look-2024/|title=Paul Wellens Q&A: Saints review of year and a look to 2024|website=www.sthelensstar.co.uk|date=14 October 2023 |accessdate=17 October 2023}}</ref>

St Helens began the [[2024 Super League season]] strongly winning six of their opening seven games. However, injuries in the middle of the season to key players saw results drop. On 26 July 2024, St Helens were defeated by Leigh 46–4 which meant the club had lost five matches in a row for the first time since the Super League era began.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/crgmp28gg0do|title=Eight-try Leigh pile misery on out-of-form Saints|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=30 July 2024}}</ref> St Helens would finish the 2024 Super League season in sixth place on the table, their lowest finish of the Super League era. The club were eliminated in the first week of the [[2024 Super League season#Week 1: Eliminators|playoffs against Warrington]]. St Helens were not expected to win the game but took Warrington to golden point extra-time where [[George Williams (rugby league, born 1994)|George Williams]] would kick the winning drop goal for Warrington.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/28/warrington-st-helens-super-league-eliminator-playoff-rugby-league-match-report/|title=
‘Soul destroying’: Warrington eliminate St Helens in golden drop goal thriller|website=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

In the [[2025 Super League season]], St Helens would finish 5th on the table. In the playoff eliminator against Leeds, the club trailed by 10 points with less than nine minutes remaining before they scored two tries to win the match 16–14. The final try was scored after the full-time siren and was reminiscent of the "wide to west" try which was scored by the club 25 years prior. In the semi-final against league leaders Hull Kingston Rovers, the club would succumb to a 20–12 loss which ended their season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/ce86r25lrxno/|title=Saints snatch stunning play-off victory at Leeds|website=www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=7 October 2025}}</ref>

==Academy==

Players who began their professional career in the academy and reserves (previously known as the "St Helens Colts") include [[Steve Prescott]],<ref name="Steve Prescott profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=16189|title=Steve Prescott profile|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=3 November 2010|access-date=3 November 2010}}</ref> [[Paul Forber]],<ref name="Paul Forber profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=15329|title=Paul Forber profile|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=3 November 2010|access-date=3 November 2010}}</ref> [[Gary Connolly]],<ref name="Gary Connolly profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=15098|title=Gary Connolly profile|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=3 November 2010|access-date=3 November 2010}}</ref> and [[Chris Arkwright]].<ref name="Chris Arkwright profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=14805&num=14805|title=Chris Arkwright profile|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=3 November 2010|access-date=3 November 2010}}</ref> Players have come from areas such as Widnes, Wigan, Cumbria and Oldham. Daniel Brotherton, a winger from [[Northampton]], signed a professional contract with the club from Northampton Demons.<ref name="Dan Brotherton signs for Saints – RL that is!">{{cite web|url=http://www.northamptonrl.co.uk/dan-brotherton-signs-for-saints-rl-that-is|title=Dan Brotherton signs for Saints – RL that is!|publisher=northamptonrl.co.uk|date=25 August 2010|access-date=3 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="Saints Sign Daniel Brotherton">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2775|title=Saints Sign Daniel Brotherton|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=23 August 2010|access-date=3 November 2010}}</ref>

==Women's side==
{{main|St Helens R.F.C. Women}}

==Rivalries==

===Wigan Warriors===
[[File:St Helens vs Wigan 2009.JPG|thumb|right|250px|St Helens against Wigan in the semi-final play-off eliminator in 2009]]
{{main|St Helens R.F.C.–Wigan Warriors rivalry}}

There is a strong [[Derbies in the Rugby Football League|rivalry]] between St Helens and [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]; the [[local derby]] between the two clubs has been traditionally regarded as the biggest in British [[rugby league]], as well as one of the oldest in world rugby league.<ref name="1st St Helens vs. Wigan game">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=481|title=1st St Helens vs. Wigan game|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=16 November 1895|access-date=12 July 2009}}</ref> Both being founder members of the [[Rugby Football League|Northern Rugby Football Union]], the derby has been played since 1895, making it amongst the most historical derbys in both British and global rugby league. Remarkably, the first encounter between the fierce rivals ended in a 0–0 draw at [[Knowsley Road]],<ref name="1st St Helens vs. Wigan game" /> The games were traditionally played on [[Boxing Day]], however were moved to [[Good Friday]], during the busy Easter period in rugby league. More recently, the game was even played on [[Maundy Thursday]] in Super League. In all league encounters between the two since 1895, there have been 235 games, with Wigan having won nearly double the number of games that St Helens have. Saints winning 83, drawing 11 and losing 141.<ref name="Saints vs. Wigan Head-to-Head Since 1895">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/matchcentre/1541|title=Saints vs. Wigan Head-to-Head Since 1895|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=29 August 1895|access-date=2 August 2009}}</ref> All competitive games, i.e. cup and league games combined, show that in the 366 games played, St Helens have won 141, there have been 19 draws and Wigan have won 206. They too have contested no fewer than 6 [[Challenge Cup]] Finals,<ref name="1961 Challenge Cup Final"/><ref name="1966 Challenge Cup Final"/><ref name="1989 Challenge Cup Final"/><ref name="1991 Challenge Cup Final"/><ref name="2002 Challenge Cup Final"/><ref name="2004 Challenge Cup Final"/> and have met in three [[Super League Grand Final]]s; St Helens winning 29–16 in [[2000 Super League Grand Final|2000]],<ref name="2002 Super League Grand Final"/> with Wigan initially gaining revenge in [[2010 Super League Grand Final|2010]], with a 22–10 win,<ref name="Warriors too good for Saints" /> before Saints claimed the 2014 Super League Grand Final by a score of 14–6, taking a 2–1 lead in their Super League Grand Final head-to-heads. Wigan and St Helens have also met in 4 [[Rugby League Premiership|Premiership]] Finals, Wigan winning 3, St Helens once,<ref name="1992 Premiership Final"/><ref name="1993 Premiership Final"/><ref name="1996 Premiership Final"/><ref name="1997 Premiership Final"/> 3 [[RFL Lancashire Cup|Lancashire]] [[Rugby league county cups|County Cup]] Finals, St Helens winning two, Wigan one,<ref name="1992 Lancashire Cup Final"/><ref name="1953 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2566|title=1953 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=24 October 1953|access-date=31 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="1984 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3980|title=1984 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=28 October 1984|access-date=31 July 2010}}</ref> and one [[BBC2 Floodlit Trophy|Floodlit Trophy]] Final in 1968, Wigan winning 7–4.<ref name="1968 Floodlit Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3255|title=1968 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=17 December 1968|access-date=31 July 2010}}</ref> The two have traditionally met each other in the [[Magic Weekend]] too. The two teams have a pretty even record, winning two (at [[Millennium Stadium]] in 2007 and 2008) and losing two (at [[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]] in 2009 and [[City of Manchester Stadium|Etihad Stadium]] in 2012), with one draw (at Millennium Stadium in 2011) in five ties.<ref name="2007 Magic Weekend">{{cite web|url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/report.php?id=1245|title=2007 Magic Weekend|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=5 May 2007|access-date=20 February 2011}}</ref><ref name="2008 Magic Weekend">{{cite web|url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/report.php?id=2538|title=2008 Magic Weekend|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=4 May 2008|access-date=20 February 2011}}</ref><ref name="2009 Magic Weekend">{{cite web|url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/report.php?id=4084|title=2009 Magic Weekend|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=2 May 2009|access-date=20 February 2011}}</ref><ref name="2011 Magic Weekend">{{cite web|url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=21003|title=2011 Magic Weekend|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=12 February 2011|access-date=20 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905094216/http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=21003|archive-date=5 September 2012}}</ref> St Helens greatest winning margin and the highest game score between the two in competitive football was a 75–0 win in a 2005 Challenge Cup round 6 game.<ref name="St Helens 75-0 Wigan">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4555|title=St Helens 75–0 Wigan|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 June 2005|access-date=31 July 2010}}</ref> Wigan's biggest win was a 65–12 win in [[Super League II]], 1997.<ref name="St Helens 12-65 Wigan">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=210|title=St Helens 12–65 Wigan|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 May 1997|access-date=31 July 2010}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" width="20%" style="font-size:90%" style="text-align: center"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! colspan=11 | Super League record
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|-
! Win !! Draw !! Loss
|-
|26 || 4 || 30
|}<ref name="Super League record vs Wigan">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=17|title=Super League record vs Wigan|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=20 February 2011|access-date=20 February 2011}}</ref>

===Bradford Bulls===

Saints contested several finals in the modern game with [[Bradford Bulls]], following up from their vast successes respectively in previous decades. When known as Bradford Northern, Bradford experienced their period of success largely in the 1940s, at a time when St Helens struggled to compete due to the commitments of World War II. In fact, it was only in the 1950s that St Helens won their first Challenge Cup and National League, and at this time, when St Helens were establishing themselves and improving in the 1950s, and 1960s, Bradford were disproving, and in fact folded in 1963. So the contest between the two can be doubted as a historical or traditional one. However, during the modern, Summer era, the game between the two gained prestige. The two contested consecutive Challenge Cup finals in 1996 and 1997,<ref name="St Helens 40 v 32 Bradford Bulls">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=247|title=St Helens 40 v 32 Bradford Bulls|publisher=saints.org.uk|date=27 April 1996|access-date=24 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="St Helens 32 v 22 Bradford Bulls">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=214|title=St Helens 32 v 22 Bradford Bulls|publisher=saints.org.uk|date=3 May 1997|access-date=24 June 2010}}</ref> and later in 2001,<ref name="St Helens 13 v 6 Bradford Bulls">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=77|title=St Helens 13 v 6 Bradford Bulls|publisher=saints.org.uk|date=28 April 2001|access-date=24 June 2010}}</ref> St Helens winning all three. In Super League Grand Finals, St Helens and Bradford met twice, in [[1999 Super League Grand Final|1999]] and [[2002 Super League Grand Final|2002]], St Helens again winning all encounters.<ref name="St Helens 8 v 6 Bradford Bulls">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=124|title=St Helens 8 v 6 Bradford Bulls|publisher=saints.org.uk|date=9 October 1999|access-date=24 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="St Helens 19 v 18 Bradford Bulls">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=17|title=St Helens 19 v 18 Bradford Bulls|publisher=saints.org.uk|date=19 October 2002|access-date=24 June 2010}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" width="20%" style="font-size:90%" style="text-align: center"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! colspan=11 | Super League record
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|-
! Win !! Draw !! Loss
|-
|24 || 1 || 20
|}<ref name="Super League record vs Bradford">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=17|title=Super League record vs Bradford|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=20 February 2011|access-date=20 February 2011}}</ref>

===Leeds Rhinos===
[[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] have arguably the strongest rivalry with St Helens, out of all the [[Yorkshire]] clubs that have a history with St Helens. They have contested the last three Super League finals,<ref name="St Helens 6-33 Leeds Rhinos" /><ref name="St Helens 16-24 Leeds Rhinos" /><ref name="St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos" /> but the rugby they have produced in recent years is considered amongst the best in Super League. The derby is also sometimes considered a contest in terms of pride between the two counties. Leeds and St Helens have also a historical background, contesting the 1971–72 and 1977–78 Challenge Cup Finals, each team winning one each.<ref name="St Helens 16-13 Leeds">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3437|title=St Helens 16–13 Leeds|publisher=saints.org.uk|date=13 May 1972|access-date=24 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="St Helens 12-14 Leeds">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3723|title=St Helens 12–14 Leeds|publisher=saints.org.uk|date=13 May 1978|access-date=24 June 2010}}</ref> However, the derby is often noted for its bad behaviour—on and off the field. Especially recently, with incidents like the [[Ryan Bailey (rugby league)|Ryan Bailey]] "chicken wing" tackle on [[Maurie Fa'asavalu]] in 2008, the presence of [[James Graham (rugby league)|James Graham]] when the two meet, as well as the numerous fights that have broken out between the two sets of players, the game is certainly regarded as a feisty one, as well as one that produces entertaining rugby. Such activities off the field and between games like fights between supporters, has led to some fans being discouraged from attending the fixture at Knowsley Road; shown by somewhat disappointing crowd figures, such as an example of 11,048 in 2010.<ref name="St Helens 24-28 Leeds">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/results/150|title=St Helens 24–28 Leeds|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=3 July 2010|access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" width="20%" style="font-size:90%" style="text-align: center"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! colspan=11 | Super League record
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|-
! Win !! Draw !! Loss
|-
|24 || 0 || 23
|}<ref name="Super League record vs Leeds">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=17|title=Super League record vs Leeds|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=20 February 2011|access-date=20 February 2011}}</ref>

===Warrington Wolves===

The other "big" [[North West England|North West]] club in Super League, [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]], have also built up an anticipated derby contest with St Helens, particularly within Super League. As St Helens are unbeaten at Knowsley Road against the Wire since 1996, as well as boasting a generally impressive record against the Wolves in all meetings in Super League, the game is seen as an opportunity for Warrington to rectify their record against the Saints. In terms of cup and league final meetings; the two have met in two Lancashire Cup finals, St Helens winning once after a replay in 1967,<ref name="St Helens 13-10 Warrington">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3203|title=St Helens 13–10 Warrington|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=2 February 1967|access-date=31 July 2010}}</ref> and one Premiership final, St Helens winning in 1977.<ref name="St Helens 32-20 Warrington">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3674|title=St Helens 32–20 Warrington|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=28 May 1977|access-date=31 July 2010}}</ref> However, they remarkably have never met in Challenge Cup or Super League Finals. On 26 February 2011, Warrington Wolves beat St. Helens for the first time in 10 years ending the Saints Hoodoo over the club. The fixture was played at the Saints temporary home at Widnes. The Wolves also beat the Saints in the reverse fixture to do the league double for the first time in 17 years. In 2012 the Wolves beat St. Helens in the Grand Final elimination clash at Langtree Park to book the Warrington Wolves a place at the Grand Final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/19718693|title=St Helens 18–36 Warrington|work=BBC Sport |date=29 September 2012|access-date=24 April 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" width="20%" style="font-size:90%" style="text-align: center"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! colspan=11 | Super League record
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|-
! Win !! Draw !! Loss
|-
|35 || 2 || 9
|}<ref name="Super League record vs Warrington">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=17|title=Super League record vs Warrington |publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=20 February 2011|access-date=20 February 2011}}</ref>

==Associates==

===Junior rugby in St Helens===
There is a massive{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=April 2017}} junior and youth contingent of rugby league players in St Helens. Clubs such as [[Thatto Heath Crusaders|Thatto Heath]] and [[Blackbrook A.R.L.F.C.|Blackbrook Royals]] have produced many of the former and current superstars in St Helens' squads over the years, and continue to do so.<ref name="St Helens 1st team squad">{{cite web|url=http://saintsrlfc.com/team/1|title=St Helens 1st team squad|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=11 December 2009|access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref> Clubs in the St Helens area also include Bold Miners, [[Portico Vine ARLFC|Portico Vine]], [[Pilkington Recs]], Haydock Warriors, Newton Storm, Eccleston Lions and Haresfinch Hawks which provide players for St Helens through the junior years and the scholarship schemes at the club, before eventually signing professionally at 16. But St Helens' youth roots do not stop in the St Helens area. Indeed, club legend [[Keiron Cunningham]] signed for the club from Wigan St Judes,<ref name="Keiron Cunningham profile">{{cite web|url=http://saintsrlfc.com/player/9|title=Keiron Cunningham profile|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=27 July 2010|access-date=27 July 2010}}</ref> and Saints also look to clubs like Wigan St Patricks and Orrell St James in the Wigan area, and Halton Farnworth Hornets in the Widnes area for youth talent. However, a criticism of the St Helens scouting system is that they tend not to look at players beyond the junior ages (6–16 years old), and talented players who continue into amateur rugby tend to be signed very rarely.
<gallery perrow="4">
File:AmateurRugbyU11.jpg|[[Blackbrook A.R.L.F.C.|Blackbrook Royals]] have a large contingent of players in St Helens first team squad.
File:Keiron Cunningham.JPG|[[Keiron Cunningham]], perhaps the prime example of St Helens deep roots in junior rugby
</gallery>

===Feeder clubs===
Without having strict feeder sides, such as the system that exists in Australasia, St Helens have, in the last 20 years, particularly with the inception of the dual—registration scheme in 2009, built up partnerships with [[Co-operative Championship]] sides like [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] and [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]].<ref name="Emmitt: Dual System Is Giving Me Confidence">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2515|title=Emmitt: Dual System Is Giving Me Confidence|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=12 May 2010|access-date=31 July 2010}}</ref> St Helens have also been known to loan fringe players to "less strong" Super League sides such as [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]] and [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders]] and previously Widnes. St Helens have also forged links with the [[Canada Rugby League]] (CRL) and their team [[Toronto City Saints]], who have adopted the popular piece of St Helens insignia in their crest.<ref name="Toronto Becomes Second CRL Domestic Club">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2797|title=Toronto Becomes Second CRL Domestic Club|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=3 September 2010|access-date=6 October 2010}}</ref> Outside of rugby league, St Helens have forged partnerships with [[British Basketball League]] side [[Mersey Tigers]],<ref name="Saints Join Forces With Everton Tigers">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2273|title=Saints Join Forces With Everton Tigers|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=1 February 2010|access-date=22 October 2010}}</ref> and [[English Premier Ice Hockey League]] team [[Manchester Phoenix]].<ref name="Saints Team Up With Manchester Phoenix">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2294|title=Saints Team Up With Manchester Phoenix|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=12 February 2010|access-date=22 October 2010}}</ref>

==Supporters==
[[File:St Helens RFC Fans.jpg|thumb|right|300px|St Helens fans in Perpignan 2016]]

St Helens are one of the best supported teams in Super League, averaging 11,543 according to 2014 figures.<ref name="2014 Crowd Average" /> Situated, prior to their recent move to Widnes, in [[Eccleston, Merseyside|Eccleston and Thatto Heath]], a lot of support naturally derives from that area. Many strongholds of support also come from the Eastern side of the town; areas like [[Blackbrook, St Helens|Blackbrook]], [[Haydock]], and [[Parr, Merseyside|Parr]]. However, there exists considerable support towards [[Newton-le-Willows|Newton]], [[Billinge, Merseyside|Billinge]] and [[Ashton-in-Makerfield|Ashton]] also. Their support is also not restricted to the town, with bases in [[Liverpool]], [[Manchester]], [[Birmingham]], [[Northamptonshire]], [[Southern England|the South]] and [[North Wales]].

The club also have their own supporters clubs, one for the club itself which has folded,<ref name="Original St Helens R.L.F.C.Supporters Club">{{cite web|url=http://www.originalsaintssupportersclub.co.uk/|title=Original St Helens R.L.F.C.Supporters Club|publisher=originalsaintssupportersclub.co.uk|date=2 March 2011|access-date=2 March 2011|archive-date=20 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520221356/http://originalsaintssupportersclub.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and one for fans in the South.<ref name="Imperial Exiles">{{cite web|url=http://www.imperialexiles.org/meridian/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726174127/http://www.imperialexiles.org/meridian/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=26 July 2011|title=Imperial Exiles|publisher=Imperial Exiles|date=2 March 2011|access-date=2 March 2011}}</ref> International, as well as national support is also strong with Saints. A recent survey showed fan bases in Australia, the United States, France, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, the Middle East, Chile and Greece. The club also have something of a fan base forming in the Far East, with fans from Singapore and Japan.<ref name="Is This Saints' Most Travelled fan?">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/1928|title=Is This Saints' Most Travelled fan?|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=14 July 2009|access-date=21 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="Thanks From Katz...">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/1951|title=Thanks From Katz...|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=23 July 2009|access-date=21 November 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="RedVee.Net - The N°1 Independent Saints Website - Sponsored By Hattons Solicitors">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net|title=RedVee.Net – The N°1 Independent Saints Website – Sponsored By Hattons Solicitors|publisher=redvee.net|date=25 March 2014|access-date=25 March 2014}}</ref>

'''Super League crowd averages'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=100|Year
!width=100|Average
|-
| [[Super League I|1996]]
| 10,221<ref name="1996 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=204|title=1996 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League II|1997]]
| 8,826<ref name="1997 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=205|title=1997 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League III|1998]]
| 7,081<ref name="1998 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=206|title=1998 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League IV|1999]]
| 8,201<ref name="1999 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=207|title=1999 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League V|2000]]
| 8,880<ref name="2000 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=208|title=2000 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League VI|2001]]
| 8,801<ref name="2001 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=209|title=2001 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League VII|2002]]
| 9,928<ref name="2002 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=210|title=2002 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League VIII|2003]]
| 9,819<ref name="2003 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=211|title=2003 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League IX|2004]]
| 9,507<ref name="2004 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=212|title=2004 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League X|2005]]
| 10,622<ref name="2005 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=213|title=2005 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XI|2006]]
| 10,721<ref name="2006 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=214|title=2006 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XII|2007]]
| 9,717<ref name="2007 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=215|title=2007 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XIII|2008]]
| 10,642<ref name="2008 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=216|title=2008 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XIV|2009]]
| 10,985<ref name="2009 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=217|title=2009 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XV|2010]]
| 11,191<ref name="2010 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=218|title=2010 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net|date=19 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XVI|2011]]
| 7,863<ref name="2011 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=277|title=2011 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XVII|2012]]
| 14,221<ref name="2012 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=285 |title=2012 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XVIII|2013]]
| 11,279<ref name="2013 Crowd Average">{{cite web|url=http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=290|title=2013 Crowd Average|publisher=redvee.net |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XIX|2014]]
| 11,543<ref name="2014 Crowd Average">{{cite web |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/news/article/480/9688148/rugby-league-a-club-by-club-guide-to-the-2015-super-league-season |title=Super League club-by-club guide |publisher=Sporting Life  |last1=Laybourn |first1=Ian |date=30 January 2015 |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XX|2015]]
| 12,364{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}
|-
| [[Super League XXI|2016]]
| 10,711<ref name="2016 Crowd Average">{{cite web |url=https://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/news/super-league-team-by-team-guide/142232 |publisher=Sporting Life  |last1=Laybourn |first1=Ian |title=Super League team-by-team guide |date=30 January 2017 |access-date=17 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[Super League XXII|2017]]
| 10,749{{Citation needed |date=July 2023 |reason=The source has no relevance to 2017}}
|-
| [[Super League XXIII|2018]]
| 11,478<ref name="2018 Crowd Average">{{cite web |url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/super-league-average-attendances-for-2018-revealed-and-its-not-good-reading-18712/ |publisher= Seriousaboutrl.com  |last1=Laybourn |first1=Ian |title= Super League average attendances for 2018 revealed – and it's not good reading! |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
|[[2019 Super League season|2019]]
|11,910<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-21 |title=Every Super League club's crowds from 2019 to 2024 compared |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/every-super-league-clubs-crowds-from-2019-to-2024-compared-with-huge-rise-for-many |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Love Rugby League |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[2020 St Helens R.F.C. season|2020]]
|12,845<ref>{{Citation |title=2020 St Helens R.F.C. season |date=2024-02-24 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2020_St_Helens_R.F.C._season&oldid=1209990672 |access-date=2025-07-04 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[2021 Super League season|2021]]
|''no data''
|-
|[[2022 Super League season|2022]]
|11,851<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=Every Super League club's average attendance in 2022 |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/every-super-league-clubs-average-attendance-in-2022 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Love Rugby League |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[2023 Super League season|2023]]
|12,695<ref>{{Cite web |title=Average attendance of Super League teams 2024 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1457867/super-league-team-average-attendance/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[2024 Super League season|2024]]
|13,105<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-21 |title=Every Super League club's crowds from 2019 to 2024 compared |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/every-super-league-clubs-crowds-from-2019-to-2024-compared-with-huge-rise-for-many |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Love Rugby League |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[2025 Super League season|2025]]
|11,618<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tomlinson |first=Daniel |date=2025-09-26 |title=Super League sees increase in average attendance as different fortunes shared |url=https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/super-league-sees-increase-average-1412088 |access-date=2025-09-27 |website=All Out Rugby League |language=en}}</ref>
|}

===Notable fans===
* [[David Bernstein (executive)|David Bernstein]]—former Chairman of [[The Football Association]]<ref name="St Helens-born businessman lands top FA job">{{cite web|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/8758084.St_Helens_born_businessman_lands_top_FA_job/|title=St Helens-born businessman lands top FA job|work=St Helens Star|date=24 December 2010|access-date=31 December 2010}}</ref>
* [[Rob Broughton]]—professional [[mixed martial arts|mixed martial artist]] of the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]]<ref name="Rob Broughton gets UFC career of to flying start">{{cite web|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/boxing/8494753.Rob_Broughton_gets_UFC_career_of_to_flying_start/|title=Rob Broughton gets UFC career of to flying start|work=St Helens Star|date=4 November 2010|access-date=12 November 2010}}</ref>
* [[Stephen Bunting]]—professional darts player who plays in the [[Professional Darts Corporation]]
* [[Gordon Burns]]—retired television broadcaster
* [[Tim Cahill (footballer)|Tim Cahill]]—[[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] and [[Everton F.C.]] [[Association football|footballer]]<ref name="Everton star Tim Cahill shoots commercial at Stobart Stadium">{{cite web|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/archive/2009/12/17/Latest+news+(runcorn_widnes_news)/4796766.Everton_star_Tim_Cahill_shoots_commercial_at_Stobart_Stadium/|title=Everton star Tim Cahill shoots commercial at Stobart Stadium|work=St Helens Star|date=17 December 2009|access-date=12 November 2010}}</ref>
* [[Dave Chisnall]]—professional darts player who plays in the [[Professional Darts Corporation]]<ref name="Grand Slam Chizzy">{{cite web|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/8632072.Grand_Slam_Chizzy/|title=Grand Slam Chizzy|work=St Helens Star|date=12 November 2010|access-date=12 November 2010}}</ref>
* [[Ricky Hatton]]—retired welterweight champion [[boxing|boxer]]<ref name="Ricky Hatton–The Voice of Hattons TV Advert">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/corporate/2334|title=Ricky Hatton–The Voice of Hattons TV Advert|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=1 November 2010|access-date=1 November 2010}}</ref>
*[[Sue Johnston]] – Actress, known for her role in [[The Royle Family]] 
* [[Phil Lesh]]—bass player with The Grateful Dead
* [[Craig Lyon]]—bantamweight boxer<ref name="Unbeaten St Helens boxer Craig Lyon joins Ricky Hatton stable">{{cite web|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/boxing/4774781.BOXING__Unbeaten_boxer_Lyon_joins_Ricky_Hatton_stable/|title=Unbeaten St Helens boxer Craig Lyon joins Ricky Hatton stable|work=St Helens Star|date=3 December 2009|access-date=9 November 2010}}</ref>
* [[Martin Murray (boxer)|Martin Murray]]—Commonwealth [[middleweight]] champion boxer<ref name="Classy Murray overcomes sledging and spoiling tactics to win Commonwealth title">{{cite web|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/boxing/8286571.Classy_Murray_overcomes_sledging_and_spoiling_tactics_to_win_Commonwealth_title/|title=Classy Murray overcomes sledging and spoiling tactics to win Commonwealth title|work=St Helens Star|date=22 July 2010|access-date=12 November 2010}}</ref>
* [[Ray Peacock]]—comedian and actor
* [[Michael Smith (darts player)|Michael Smith]]—professional darts player who plays in the [[Professional Darts Corporation]]
* [[Ricky Tomlinson]]—actor<ref name="A fame of two-halves for Ricky">{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/2005/09/26/a-fame-of-two-halves-for-ricky-91466-16174984/|title=A fame of two-halves for Ricky|publisher=Wales Online|date=26 September 2005|access-date=9 November 2010}}</ref>
* [[Johnny Vegas]]—actor and comedian<ref name="Johnny Vegas turns out for Saints">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/4229109.stm|title=Johnny Vegas turns out for Saints|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=3 February 2005|access-date=1 November 2010}}</ref>

==Colours and badge==

===Colours===
[[File:St. Helens heritage jersey 2010.svg|thumb|100px|St Helens heritage jersey, first used in 1890, used again in 2010 and at MAGIC WEEKEND 2023]]
In their rugby football days and early years as a rugby league club, St Helens wore a vertically striped blue and white jersey with blue shorts and socks. In their initial period at Knowsley Road, St Helens wore a similar jersey, but the stripes were horizontal, and the colours were blue and grey. These colours however were dropped in favour of a more traditional to today, red and white design. The jersey had a single broad red horizontal band, on a white background, and was used until 1961.

In the 1961 Challenge Cup final against Wigan, the strip still seen today—the famous red V—was first utilised.<ref name="1961 Challenge Cup Final" /> In 1981, the club changed colours again, albeit temporarily, when [[Umbro]] designed and manufactured a [[France national rugby league team|French]]—style jersey of blue, with a white and red V. These colours were donned for two years, before the traditional colours were reverted to.

1985 saw the first jersey that was supported by a visible sponsor—St Helens Glass. Umbro were once again the designers of this varsity blue jersey with a royal blue vee—shaped chevron, a kit similar to the away kit of 2008. This was also the first jersey to feature the famous stickman of St Helens insignia. The 1985 New Zealand tour jersey was similar to the home shirt of 2009, sponsored also by [[Pilkington]].

Between 1991 and 1994, a somewhat controversial and odd{{According to whom|date=April 2017}} design of jersey was employed, where the chevron that St Helens had now adopted in place of the traditional V finished three—quarters of the way down the shirt. Umbro remained the club's kit suppliers until 1994, when Stag took over. Their jerseys were far more lightweight than what they had replaced, and they chose to revert to a more conventional fashion of red V in their designs. The kit used first by the club was reverted to during their centenary year in 1995.

In 1997, yet another change of design that was controversial{{According to whom|date=April 2017}} with the fans, a kit that featured a white drop—down V with a black and red mesh design at the bottom of the jersey. This was [[Mizuno Corp.|Mizuno]]'s first design, taking over from Stag. The traditional red V was once more reverted to, after the controversial design, with a more circular design used for the [[Super League IV|1999 season]]. In 2000, a more regular V was seen again. In 2003, a triple—V design was seen, and the first to be used by long—serving kit designers [[Puma AG]]. 2004 saw a double curvy red V used, before, in 2005, yet again tradition was reverted to in the design and this design was used until 2009. The away strip used in 2005 was the famous blue strip with a dark blue V. 2009 saw the long red V of 1985's design appear again, before, in 2010, a casual thin red V was seen.

In 2010, the club used the first kit they played a rugby league game design as a commemorative strip, to celebrate their 110th and final year at the ground.<ref name="Saints Heritage Society">[http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php Saints Heritage Society], see General Pages and Shirt Tales. Retrieved 20 October 2010.</ref> 2011 saw the Puma contract expire, and Australian manufacturing giants [[International Sports Clothing|ISC]] take over the making of the jerseys.<ref name="Saints Agree Sportswear Partnership With ISC">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2738|title=Saints Agree Sportswear Partnership With ISC|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=9 August 2010|access-date=23 October 2010}}</ref> This strip saw a somewhat shorter red vee, compared to the ventures of the design in 2009 and '10.<ref name="Record Pre-Orders For New Home Shirt">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2904|title=Record Pre-Orders For New Home Shirt|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=25 November 2010|access-date=26 November 2010}}</ref>

{{col-begin-small}}
{{col-4}}
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _white_stripes
| pattern_b  = _whitestripes
| pattern_ra = _white_stripes
| leftarm    = 0000FF
| body       = 0000FF
| rightarm   = 0000FF
| shorts     = 0000FF
| socks      = 0000FF
| title      = Very early kit
}}
{{col-4}}
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _red_hoops
| pattern_b  = _redhorizontal
| pattern_ra = _red_hoops
| leftarm    = FFFFFF
| body       = FFFFFF
| rightarm   = FFFFFF
| shorts     = FFFFFF
| socks      = FF0000
| title      = Kit until 1961
}}
{{col-4}}
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _redborder
| pattern_b  = _Vwidered
| pattern_ra = _redborder
| leftarm    = FFFFFF
| body       = ffffff
| rightarm   = FFFFFF
| shorts     = FFFFFF
| socks      = FFFFFF
| title      = 1961–present
}}
{{col-end}}

===Badge===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Saints.png|right|200px|thumb|The crest used by the club between 1996 and 2010]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Saintsrllogo.png|left|100px|thumb|The crest used by the club in 2011]] -->

The club's jerseys were initially adorned by the town's coat of arms. This was utilised until 1985. However, as Saints became a more national institution, they decided that a more recognisable badge needed to be adopted. The 1985 season therefore saw the famous stickman of St Helens first used. This was used as the main jersey emblem until 1991, when the St Helens sports club emblem, not dissimilar to the coat of arms used previously, was seen. This was used until 1996, when, with the implement of Super League into the British rugby league calendar, Saints chose to display a badge that featured an overlapping "S" and "H" in red, with the club's name around the border. This was used until 2010,<ref name="Saints Heritage Society" /> when the club decided to unofficially rebrand to "Saints RL", to coincide with them leaving Knowsley Road, and going "on the road" to Widnes for a season. The new crest was in the shape of a shield, and featured the over lapping "S" and "H" that the previous logo featured, but also displayed a red vee within the design, and "Saints RL" in upper case lettering at the top of the shield. This new crest drew criticism from large sections of the St Helens faithful, who were afraid of the club losing its connection to the town to attract a wider fan base.<ref name="There's no identity crisis say Saints">{{cite web|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/8674281.There___s_no_identity_crisis_say_Saints/|title=There's no identity crisis say Saints|work=St Helens Star|date=18 November 2010|access-date=1 December 2010}}</ref>

===Kit manufacturers and sponsors===
Since 2015 St Helens' kit has been supplied by [[O'Neills]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saints sign deal with O'Neill's Sportswear |url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/11551824.saints-sign-deal-with-oneills-sportswear/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=St Helens Star |date=22 October 2014 |language=en}}</ref>  Previous suppliers include [[Umbro]] (1986–94), Stag (1995–96), [[Mizuno Corporation]] (1997–99), Y2K (2000), Exito (2001–02), [[Puma SE|Puma]] (2003–10), and [[International Sports Clothing|ISC]] (2011–14).

Their current main shirt sponsor is [[Home Bargains]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cultivate |date=2021-11-18 |title=Champion Retailer Home Bargains to Become Saints Principal Shirt Partner |url=https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2021/11/18/champion-retailer-home-bargains-to-become-saints-principal-shirt-partner/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=St.Helens R.F.C. |language=en-GB}}</ref> Previous main sponsors have included St Helens Glass (1986–87, 2000–01), [[McEwan's Lager]] (1987–98), [[John Smith's]] (1999), Caledonia (2002), Comodo (2003), All Sports (2004–05), Earth money (2006–07), [[Pilkington]] Activ (2008–09), Frontline (2010), Medicash (2011), [[Typhoo]] (2012–2016), RCMA Group (2017), and [[Cash Converters]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cash Converters become Saints' chief shirt sponsor |url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/15637687.cash-converters-become-saints-chief-shirt-sponsor/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=St Helens Star |date=2 November 2017 |language=en}}</ref> (2018–2021). St. Helens were also sponsored by [[Gillette]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dubai Sevens St Helens Pictures and Photos – Getty Images |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/dubai-sevens-st-helens?family=editorial&assettype=image&sort=best&phrase=dubai%20sevens%20st%20helens |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=www.gettyimages.co.uk}}</ref> for a one-off appearance at the 2004 [[Dubai Sevens|Dubai Rugby 7s]] invitational.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Echo |first=Liverpool |date=2004-12-07 |title=Saints were in Sevens heaven |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/other-sport/saints-were-in-sevens-heaven-3536926 |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=Liverpool Echo |language=en}}</ref>

See Below:
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Sponsor
!Manufacturer
|-
|1986–87
|St Helens Glass
| rowspan="2" |Umbro
|-
|1988–94
| rowspan="3" |McEwan's Lager
|-
|1995–96
|Stag
|-
|1997–98
| rowspan="2" |Mizuno
|-
|1999
|John Smith's
|-
|2000
| rowspan="2" |St Helens Glass
|Y2K
|-
|2001
| rowspan="2" |Excito
|-
|2002
|Caledonia
|-
|2003
|Comodo
| rowspan="5" |Puma
|-
|2004–05
|All:Sports
|-
|2006–07
|Earth Money
|-
|2008–09
|Pilkington Activ
|-
|2010
|Frontline
|-
|2011
|Medicash
| rowspan="2" |ISC
|-
|2012–14
| rowspan="2" |Typhoo
|-
|2015–16
| rowspan="4" |O'Neills
|-
|2017
|RCMA Group
|-
|2018–21
|Cash Converters
|-
|2022–26
|Home Bargains
|}

==Mascots==
[[File:Mascot St Helens.JPG|thumb|left|Boots before the [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] derby in [[Super League XIV|2009]]]]

During the [[Super League]] era, the participating teams have adopted mascots and nicknames usually in alliteration with the name of their home town. Initially, the St Helens mascots were Bernard and Bernadette, [[St. Bernard (dog)|St Bernard dogs]]; depicting something of a married couple with their on-field humorous antics. However, in 2009, the mascots changed to Boots and Bernard; happy and angry masculine characters. Bernard doesn't appear as often as Boots, with Boots being a more child-friendly image for the club, while Bernard retains the 'seriousness' of the mascots role to the club.<ref name="St Bernard Steps Up to the Challenge">{{cite web|url=http://saintsrlfc.com/news/1752|title=St Bernard Steps Up to the Challenge|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=6 May 2009|access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref>

==Stadia==
{{further|Knowsley Road|BrewDog Stadium}}
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| width     = 200
| image1    = Knowsley Road St Helens.jpg
| caption1  = [[Knowsley Road]] from the Away End view
}}

St Helens' former stadium was [[Knowsley Road]], renamed in 2008 to the GPW Recruitment Stadium for sponsorship reasons.<ref name="St Helens RLFC Club Profile" /> Prior to this, in particular when St Helens were playing simply rugby football, they shared the City Ground with [[Pilkington Recs|St Helens Recs]]. They left this stadium in 1890 for Knowsley Road and played there for 120 years. The ground at the time of its construction was considered modern, with one seated stand, and three standing areas that could, prior to strict safety regulations set in place, hold up to 40,000 people, shown by their record home crowd of 35,695 against Wigan in 1949.<ref name="St Helens RLFC Club Records" /> 

In their first match at the new ground, St Helens beat Manchester Rangers, played under rugby football rules. After the great schism of 1895, and St Helens joining the NRFU, their first game at Knowsley Road under traditional rugby league rules was against Rochdale, in front of 3,000 spectators.<ref name="Saints' first match in Northern Union" /> Over the years, however, age took its toll on the ground. Despite the big names like Meninga, van Vollenhoven, Lyon etc. coming to the club, it was constantly argued that, unlike other big clubs, St Helens did not have the stadium to suit their on-field talent. In 2006, the ground was treated to something of a makeover, after financial input from St Helens big money sponsors Earth Money. This aided the ground in gaining international rugby, with a fixture between [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] and [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] being held there in 2006. 

In 2008, St Helens were given a warning letter from the RFL, as a result of the ensuing licensing system that was to be introduced into Super League in 2009, stating that the quality of their current stadium was too poor for the expected quality of a licence in the league.<ref name="5 Clubs Issued With Licensing Letters">{{cite web|url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=14771|title=5 Clubs Issued With Licensing Letters|publisher=superleague.co.uk|date=22 July 2009|access-date=7 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723201304/http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=14771|archive-date=23 July 2009}}</ref> Thankfully for Saints, they were permitted by the council to begin construction on a [[Langtree Park|new ground]], and confirmed that they would move away from Knowsley Road in 2011.<ref name="St Helens RLFC New Stadium">{{cite web|url=http://www.sthelensstadium.com/default.htm|title=St Helens RLFC New Stadium|publisher=sthelensstadium.com|date=15 July 2009|access-date=14 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709085620/http://www.sthelensstadium.com/default.htm|archive-date=9 July 2009}}</ref>

It was announced that the new complex, to be built on an unused glass site in Peasley Cross, was to feature at least 12,000 seats, a large car park, and a [[Tesco]] store next to the ground. In addition to this, an iconic bridge, directly linking the ground to the town centre went under construction on 9 August 2010.<ref name="Work Begins on Bridge">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2741|title=Work Begins on Bridge|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=9 August 2010|access-date=9 August 2010}}</ref> Whether the stadium would be ready for the beginning of the [[Super League XVI|2011 season]] was always uncertain, and grounds such as [[Leigh Sports Village]] were suggested to home Saints for the period between. However, the [[Halton Stadium]], [[Widnes]] was the chosen venue for Saints for the 2011 season, and they played all of their home games there, before permanently relocating in 2012.<ref name="Saints shifting to Widnes">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12206_6268665,00.html|title=Saints shifting to Widnes|publisher=skysports.com|date=18 July 2010|access-date=18 July 2010}}</ref> Saints currently play at the [[BrewDog Stadium]].

==2026 squad==
{{St Helens R.F.C. current squad}}

==2026 transfers==
{{unreferenced|section|date=October 2025}}
===Transfers In===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Player !! From !! Contract !! Date 
|-
| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Shane Wright (rugby league)|Shane Wright]]}}
|| {{Nowrap| [[Salford Red Devils]]}}
|| 2 years 
|| {{Nowrap|September 2025}}
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{Rlicon|AUS}} [[Jacob Host]]}}
|{{Nowrap|[[South Sydney Rabbitohs]]}}
|2 years
|{{Nowrap|October 2025}}
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{Rlicon|AUS}} [[David Klemmer]]}}
|{{Nowrap|[[St. George Illawarra Dragons]]}}
|2 years
|{{Nowrap|October 2025}}
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Jacob Douglas (rugby league)|Jacob Douglas]]}}
|{{Nowrap|[[Wigan Warriors]]}}
|3 years
|{{Nowrap|November 2025}}
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Shorrocks]]}}
|{{Nowrap|[[Salford Red Devils]]}}
|1 year
|{{Nowrap|November 2025}}
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Jackson Hastings]]}}
|{{Nowrap|[[Newcastle Knights]]}}
|1 year
|{{Nowrap|November 2025}}
|-
! Head Coach !! From !! Contract !! Date 
|-
| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Rowley]] }}
|| {{Nowrap|[[Salford Red Devils]]}}
|| 3 Years 
|| {{Nowrap|October 2025}}
|}

===Transfers Out===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Player !! To !! Contract !! Date 
|-
| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Morgan Knowles]]}}
|{{Nowrap|[[Dolphins (NRL)]]}}
|2 years
|{{Nowrap| February 2025}}
|-
| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Ben Davies (rugby league, born 2000)|Ben Davies]]}}
|{{Nowrap| [[Oldham RLFC|Oldham]]}}
|1 year
|{{Nowrap| May 2025 }}
|-
| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|TON}} [[Konrad Hurrell]]}}
|{{Nowrap| [[Lezignan XIII]]}}
|1 year
|{{Nowrap| August 2025 }}
|-
| {{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Moses Mbye]]
|{{Nowrap| [[Ipswich Jets]]
|| 1 year
|| August 2025
|-
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Batchelor]]
|{{Nowrap|  [[Hull FC]]}}
|| 3 years
|| September 2025
|-
| {{Nowrap|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[James Bell (rugby league)| James Bell]]
|{{Nowrap| [[Hull FC]]
| 3 years 
|{{Nowrap| September 2025}}
|-
| {{Nowrap|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jon Bennison]]
|{{Nowrap| [[York Knights]]
| 1 year
|{{Nowrap| September 2025}}
|-
| {{Nowrap|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dayon Sambou]]
|{{Nowrap| [[Wigan Warriors]]}}
| 4 years 
|{{Nowrap| September 2025}}
|-
| {{Nowrap|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jonny Vaughan]]
|{{Nowrap| [[Wigan Warriors]]}}
| 4 years 
|{{Nowrap| September 2025}}
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Tee Ritson]]
|{{Nowrap| [[Barrow Raiders]]}}
| 2 years 
|{{Nowrap| September 2025}}
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Will Roberts (rugby league)|Will Roberts]]
|
|  
|{{Nowrap| September 2025}}
|-

!Coach
!To
!Contract
!Date
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Wellens]]
|
|
| October 2025
|}

=== Players Retired ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Player !! Date 
|-
| 
|
|}

==Players==
{{see also|List of St Helens R.F.C. players}}

===Notable former players===
[[File:Francis Meli 2008.jpg|right|170px|thumb|[[Francis Meli]] playing for [[Samoa national rugby league team|Samoa]] whilst at St Helens]]
''For all St Helens players with a Wikipedia article see [[List of St Helens RLFC past players]]''.
''For all players who have gained international caps whilst playing for the club see [[List of St Helens RLFC international players]]''.

====Best ever 17====
Throughout 2010, a select panel of fans, journalists, former players and club officials voted for the best 17 players ever to have played for St Helens, to commemorate the club's 120th and final year at Knowsley Road.<ref name="Greatest Saints Line Up Revealed">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2794|title=Greatest Saints Line Up Revealed|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=2 September 2010|access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref>
{{rugby league squad start}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=WAL|no=1|pos=FB|name=[[Kel Coslett]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=South Africa|no=2|pos=WG|name=[[Tom van Vollenhoven]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=3|pos=CE|name=[[Doug Greenall]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=4|pos=CE|name=[[Paul Newlove]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=AUS|no=5|pos=WG|name=[[Darren Albert]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=6|pos=SO|name=[[Les Fairclough]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=7|pos=SH|name=[[Alex Murphy (rugby league)|Alex Murphy]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=8|pos=PR|name=[[Alan Prescott]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=9|pos=HK|name=[[Keiron Cunningham]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=10|pos=PR|name=[[Cliff Watson]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=11|pos=SR|name=[[Dick Huddart]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=12|pos=SR|name=[[Chris Joynt]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=13|pos=LF|name=[[Vince Karalius]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=14|pos=SH|name=[[Sean Long]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=15|pos=LF|name=[[George Nicholls (rugby league)|George Nicholls]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=16|pos=LF|name=[[Paul Sculthorpe]]}}
{{rugby league squad player|nat=ENG|no=17|pos=FB|name=[[Paul Wellens]]}}
{{rugby league squad end}}

====Players receiving testimonial matches====
20 players have had benefit years or testimonials at St Helens, organised jointly by the club and the RFL. They honour ten years at the club, and the most recent player to receive one was [[Loose forward (rugby league)|loose forward]] [[Morgan Knowles]] in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Tom |date=2024-12-13 |title=Morgan Knowles, our Testimonial Saint in 2025 |url=https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2024/12/13/morgan-knowles-our-testimonial-saint-in-2025/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=St.Helens R.F.C. |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-24 |title=Morgan Knowles excited ahead of 11th season in the red vee |url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/24881335.morgan-knowles-excited-ahead-st-helens-2025-campaign/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=St Helens Star |language=en}}</ref>

==Coaches and board==

===Technical staff===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=300|Name
!width=300|Job title
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Paul Rowley]]
| Head Coach
|-
| {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Lee Briers]]
| Assistant Coach
|-
| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby league}} [[Eamon O'Carroll]]
| Assistant Coach
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Matt Daniels
| Head of Performance
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Nathan Mill
| Head Physiotherapsit
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Adam Daniels
| Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Andrew Thompson
| Physiotherapist
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Paul Johnson
| Chaplain & Wellbeing Manager
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Sam Evans
| Equipment & Kit Manager, and Training Steward
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} JD Abram
| Physiotherapist
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Darren Marsh
| Strength & Conditioning Coach, and Nutritionist
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Scott Leyland
| Performance Analyst
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Derek Jones 
| Masseur
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Simon Perritt
| Club Doctor
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Steve Leonard
| RL Development Manager
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Ian Talbot
| Reserves Head Coach
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Gary Wheeler (rugby league)|Gary Wheeler]]
| Reserves Assistant Coach
|}

===Boardroom staff===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=300|Name
!width=300|Job title
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Eamonn McManus
| [[Chairman]]
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Mike Rush
| [[Chief Executive Officer]]
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Paul Sculthorpe]]
| Business Development Manager
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Law (rugby league)|Steve Law]]
| Merchandising Manager
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Shaun Dooley
| Head of Media & Content
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Mark Onion
| Head of Marketing
|-
| {{flagicon|England}} Andrew Horsfield
| General Manager
|}<ref name="Contact Us!">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsrlfc.com/clubinfo/71|title=Contact Us!|publisher=saintsrlfc.com|date=16 December 2010|access-date=16 December 2010}}</ref>

===List of former head coaches===
{{main|List of St Helens R.F.C. coaches}}

Since the end of World War II, St Helens have seen 27 new bosses at the helm at Knowsley Road. Currently, the position is held by No one 

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Alf Frodsham]] 1945-9
* [[Peter Lyons (rugby league)|Peter Lyons]] 1949–52
* [[Jim Sullivan (Welsh rugby league)|Jim Sullivan]] 1952-9
* [[Alan Prescott]] 1959–62
* [[Stan McCormick]] 1962-4
* [[Joe Coen (rugby league)|Joe Coen]] 1964-7
* [[Cliff Evans (rugby league)|Cliff Evans]] 1967–70
* [[Jim Challinor]] 1970-4
* [[Eric Ashton]] 1974–80
* [[Kel Coslett]] 1980-2
* [[Billy Benyon]] 1982-5
* [[Alex Murphy (rugby league)|Alex Murphy]] 1985–90
* [[Mike McClennan]] 1990-3
* [[Eric Hughes (rugby, born 1950)|Eric Hughes]] 1994-6
* [[Shaun McRae]] 1996-8
* [[Ellery Hanley]] 1998–2000
* [[Ian Millward]] 2000-5
* [[Daniel Anderson (rugby league)|Daniel Anderson]] 2005-8 
* [[Mick Potter]] 2009–10
* [[Royce Simmons]] 2011–12
* [[Mike Rush (rugby league)|Mike Rush]] 2012
* [[Nathan Brown (rugby league born 1973)|Nathan Brown]] 2013–14
* [[Keiron Cunningham]] 2015–17
* [[Jamahl Lolesi]] 2017
* [[Justin Holbrook]] 2017–19
* [[Kristian Woolf]] 2020–22
* [[Paul Wellens]] 2023–25
}}

==Seasons==
{{main|List of St Helens R.F.C. seasons}}

==Honours==

===Leagues===
*[[Rugby Football League Championship First Division|First Division]] / [[Super League]]
::'''Winners (17)''': 1931–32, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
:::[[League Leaders' Shield]]
::::'''Winners (8)''': 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022
:::[[Rugby League Premiership|Premiership]]
::::'''Winners (4)''': 1975–76, 1976–77, 1984–85, 1992–93
*[[RFL Lancashire League]]
::'''Winners (9)''': 1929–30, 1931–32, 1952–53, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69
*Western Division Championship
::'''Winners (1)''': 1963–64

===Cups===
*[[Challenge Cup]]
::'''Winners (13)''': 1955–56, 1960–61, 1965–66, 1971–72, 1975–76, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2021
*[[League Cup (rugby league)|League Cup]]
::'''Winners (1)''': 1987–88
*[[Rugby League Charity Shield (Great Britain)|Charity Shield]]
::'''Winners (1)''': 1992–93
*[[BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]]
::'''Winners (2)''': 1971–72, 1975–76
*[[RFL Lancashire Cup]]
::'''Winners (11)''': 1926–27, 1953–54, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1984–85, 1991–92

===International===
*[[World Club Challenge]]
::'''Winners (3)''': 2001, 2007, 2023

==Records==
{{main|List of St Helens R.F.C. statistics and records}}

===Hall of Fame===
{{further|St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame}}

===Player records===

====Match records====

* Most goals in a match: 16 by [[Paul Loughlin]] vs [[Carlisle Centurions|Carlisle]], 14 September 1986.<ref name="St Helens 112-0 Carlisle"/>
* Most points in a match: 40 by [[Paul Loughlin]] vs [[Carlisle Centurions|Carlisle]], 14 September 1986.<ref name="St Helens 112-0 Carlisle"/>
*Most tries in a match: 6 by all of the following:
**[[Alf Ellaby]] vs [[Barrow Raiders|Barrow]], 5 March 1932.<ref name="St Helens 36-15 Carlisle">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=1753|title=St Helens 36–15 Carlisle|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=5 May 1932|access-date=12 August 2010}}</ref>
**[[Steve Llewellyn]] vs [[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]], 3 March 1956.<ref name="St Helens 48-5 Castleford">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2667|title=St Helens 48–5 Castleford|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=3 March 1956|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
**[[Steve Llewellyn]] vs [[Liverpool Stanley|Liverpool City]], 20 August 1956.<ref name="St Helens 56-5 Liverpool City">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2682|title=St Helens 56–5 Liverpool City|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=20 August 1956|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
**[[Tom van Vollenhoven]] vs [[Wakefield Trinity]], 21 December 1957.<ref name="St Helens 52-5 Wakefield">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2747|title=St Helens 52–5 Wakefield|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=21 December 1957|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
**[[Tom van Vollenhoven]] vs [[Blackpool Panthers|Blackpool Borough]], 23 April 1962.<ref name="St Helens 37-5 Blackpool">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2950|title=St Helens 37–5 Blackpool|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=23 April 1962|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
**[[Frank Myler]] vs [[Maryport]], 1 September 1969.<ref name="St Helens 58-5 Maryport">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=3283|title=St Helens 58–5&nbsp;Maryport|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=1 September 1969|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
**[[Shane Cooper (rugby league)|Shane Cooper]] vs [[Hull F.C.|Hull FC]], 17 February 1988.<ref name="St Helens 64-2 Hull">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4120|title=St Helens 64–2 Hull|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=17 February 1988|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>

====Season records====

* Most tries in a season: 62 by [[Tom van Vollenhoven]], 1958–59.<ref name="Tom van Vollenhoven Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=16468&num=16468|title=Tom van Vollenhoven Profile|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 August 2010|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
* Most goals in a season: 214 by [[Kel Coslett]], 1971–72.<ref name="Kel Coslett Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=15112|title=Kel Coslett Profile|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 August 2010|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
* Most points in a season: 452 by [[Kel Coslett]], 1971–72.<ref name="Kel Coslett Profile" />

====Career records====

* Most career tries: 392 [[Tom van Vollenhoven]] 1957–68 (third highest by any player).<ref name="Tom van Vollenhoven Profile" />
* Most career points: 3,413 [[Kel Coslett]] 1961–76.<ref name="Kel Coslett Profile" />
* Most career goals: 1,639 [[Kel Coslett]] 1961–76.<ref name="Kel Coslett Profile" />
* Most career drop-goals: 73 [[Harry Pinner]] 1975–86.<ref name="Harry Pinner Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=16167|title=Harry Pinner Profile|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=15 August 2010|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
* Most career appearances: 551 [[James Roby]] 2004–2023.<ref name="James Roby Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=16268|title=James Roby Profile|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|access-date=30 November 2023}}</ref>

===Team records===

====Points margins====
* Highest score: 112–0 vs [[Carlisle Centurions|Carlisle]], 14 September 1986.<ref name="St Helens 112-0 Carlisle">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=4055|title=St Helens 112–0 Carlisle|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=14 September 1986|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
* Greatest winning margin: 112 vs [[Carlisle Centurions|Carlisle]], 14 September 1986.<ref name="St Helens 112-0 Carlisle"/>
* Heaviest defeat: 78–6 vs [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]], 12 April 1909.<ref name="St Helens 6-78 Warrington">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=938|title=St Helens 6–78 Warrington|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=12 April 1909|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
* Heaviest home defeat: 65–12 vs [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]], 26 May 1997.
* Greatest losing margin: 72 vs [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]], 12 April 1909.<ref name="St Helens 6-78 Warrington" />

====Attendances====
* Highest attendance: 35,695 vs [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]], 26 December 1949.<ref name="St Helens 15-8 Wigan">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2395|title=St Helens 15–8 Wigan|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 December 1949|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
* Highest [[Super League]] attendance: 18,098 vs [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]], 26 August 1996.<ref name="St Helens 66-14 Warrington">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=229|title=St Helens 66–14 Warrington|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=26 August 1996|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
* Highest [[Challenge Cup]] attendance: 30,276 vs [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]], 19 February 1949.<ref name="St Helens RLFC Club Records" /><ref name="St Helens 0-5 Bradford">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=7&seq=2363|title=St Helens 0–5 Bradford|publisher=Saints Heritage Society|date=19 February 1949|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref>
* Highest international tour match attendance: 29,156 vs [[Australian Kangaroos|Australia]], 10 October 1959.<ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/kangaroos-tour-1959/game-10/st-helens-vs-australia.html 1958–59 Kangaroo Tour – St Helens vs Australia]</ref>

==See also==
*[[History of St Helens R.F.C.]]
*[[List of St Helens R.F.C. coaches]]
*[[List of St Helens R.F.C. international players]]
*[[List of St Helens R.F.C. players]]
*[[List of St Helens R.F.C. seasons]]
*[[List of St Helens R.F.C. statistics and records]]
*[[St Helens R.F.C. Women]]
*[[St Helens R.F.C. Academy]]
*[[St Helens R.F.C. Hall of Fame]]

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book| last=Service| first=Alex| title=St Helens Rugby League | date=June 2000 |publisher=NPI Media Group|isbn=978-0-7524-1883-4}}
*{{cite book| last=St Helens Heritage Society and Service| first=Alex| title=St Helens RLFC:100 Great Players | date=September 2006 |publisher=NPI Media Group|isbn=0-7524-4079-9}}
*{{cite book| last=Quirke and McCarthy| first=Andrew and Stephen| title=Knowsley Road: Memories of St. Helens Rugby League Football Club | date=August 2001 |publisher=London League Publications Ltd|isbn=1-903659-04-3}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.saints.org.uk/ Saints Heritage Society]
* [http://www.Redvee.net/ Saints Supporters website]
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{{St Helens R.F.C.}}
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[[Category:St Helens R.F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1873]]
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