Sione Mata'utia has given St Helens a massive boost by declaring he will stay with the Super League champions.
There had been talk that the in-demand ex-Australia international could return to the NRL at the end of the season when his contract is up. There has been plenty of interest in the hard-hitting back-row, who has become a big fans favourite at Saints since joining from Newcastle Knights three years ago.
However, asked about his playing future in 2024, he confirmed: “Hopefully I’ll put pen to paper this week with the Saints.” That is a real fillip for the champions as they head into Thursday’s huge showdown with leaders Catalans.
Mata’utia was in inspirational form helping Paul Wellens’ side see off Warrington in Friday’s pulsating 24-20 win at Halliwell Jones Stadium. That saw them jump from fifth to third and they could close the gap on Catalans to just two points if they win again.
It’s been a real turnaround for four-peat champions Saints who were as low as seventh after a slow start to the season after their World Club Challenge win over Penrith in Sydney.
Mata’utia, 27, admitted: “We’re flying under the radar a little. We lost a bit of form after the World Club Challenge.
“But it’s probably helped us a little just doing that: flying under the radar. Warrington were flying early on with eight wins on the trot. And now we just want to make our mark and build up for the important part of the year: we’re over halfway now so it’s time to get serious and knuckle down.
“We’ll look at Catalans and then look forward to building momentum to the end of the year to get to where we want to be again.”
Warrington, meanwhile, are heading in the other direction. Having won their opening eight games to be the early pacesetters, they have now slumped to fifth after losing seven of their last eight. They led Saints for large parts, though, until Lewis Dodd’s late try saw them fall again.
Mata’utia, who has won three Grand Finals and the Challenge Cup in his decorated Saints stint, admitted: “They always seem to play well against us. Besides this last match against us, Warrington always show up; it’s always a good match and even better to do it on their own turf. It’s a proper rugby league game. “They are the ones you want to be a part of.”
But Mata’utia once more got the upper hand over his elder brother Pete, 32, who was lining up at centre for Wolves.
“Growing up, he’s always been one who’s taught me there’s no friends on the field so we just play tough,” he said.
“I spoke to him afterwards on how they’re going. They’re in a tough spot but they are staying positive and they have the team to do it as they showed against us. They took us all the way to the wire. They have the ability to do it. And once they do they'll be a scary team. I suspect them to be there at the business end as well.”
