Mark Percival admits it’s scary just how good St Helens team-mate Jack Welsby is - despite still being only 22.
The England full-back marked his 100th game for the champions with a stunning display in Friday’s 34-16 derby victory over Wigan. Welsby scored twice, supplied another two tries for Tommy Makinson with brilliant passes and also ushered Joe Batchelor over in a virtuoso display. Great things have come to be expected of one of Super League’s leading talents, especially since he shone at last year’s World Cup.
But England centre Percival - alongside him ever since Welsby debuted in 2018 - said: “It’s frightening, honestly. I don’t know if I can speak highly enough of Jack,the way he plays the game and what he did tonight. To play 100 games and win three Grand Finals, the World Club Challenge, League Leaders’, Challenge Cup… he’s won everything but his best thing is he’s a really good bloke, too.
“He’s such a nice lad with his feet on the ground. You can see when he’s out there, he just plays free. That’s what Jack does and what we want him to keep doing. He’s an unbelievable player. I’m so lucky to have him in my team, especially as my full-back.”
Percival, 29, is two games into his return after missing five weeks with a hamstring injury. He said: “I feel good. I had a knee issue cleaned out as well. Early on in the year I was struggling with a that. It needed cleaning out and I do feel a little better movement-wise. I feel a bit lighter as well. I want to keep on improving those performances and get better and helping this team. We’re getting back to how we know we can play.”
After their slow starts, Saints have started to do that, putting together a five-match winning run ahead of visiting Hull FC in Saturday's Challenge Cup quarter-final. He added: "The debry win was good. It was nice to back up last week what we did at Magic (beating Huddersfield 48-6). We’ve had some disappointing results and performances this year which have not been up to our standard. It feels like we’re slowly getting back to it now. There’s still a long way to go and a lot more games to come - including a massive one next Saturday in the Challenge Cup - but that was a step in the right direction."
Coach Paul Wellens says he has gone back to basics with Saints' style to see them overcome that poor start which saw them lose six of their opening 11 games and Percival agreed. He said: "That’s what it was. Early on in the season we were panicking and not doing what we’ve done for the last four or five years which has brought success. We have simplified it. Everyone knows their role, working hard for their mate. That’s the main thing: you’re letting your mates down if you don’t perform to your best and that’s what we’ve got back to. We’re turning up for each other."
