SAINTS FACING BATTLE FOR DUO
ST HELENS are braced for a fight to hold on to James Bentley and Jack Ashworth – despite offering the pair new deals.
A host of Super League clubs are circling the out-of-contract duo, who were members of Saints’ title-winning squad last season.
Prop Ashworth made 28 appearances – 27 off the bench – and featured in the Grand Final win over Salford.
Bradford product played times 17 academy Bentley
■ (inset) and started this season as a standin for James Roby at hooker before playing centre in the World Club Challenge.
The 23-year-old is primarily a back-rower, though, having first made an impression with the Bulls in the Championship. That earned him a threeyear deal at Saints which expires this season, and Castleford and Hull KR are both showing an interest. The Tigers, Huddersfield and Salford are in a cluster of clubs considering a move for Ashworth, 24, who progressed through Saints’ academy. It means Kristian Woolf could face a significant turnaround in his pack for next season, with England prop Luke Thompson already having signed for NRL side Canterbury Bulldogs.
The Australian club have openly admitted they would like Thompson to move immediately – having lost their opening three matches – but Saints are keen to retain his services for the rest of the year.
Two other young English players attracting interest for 2021 are Catalans’ Matt Whitley and London prop Rob Butler.
Like Ashworth, the pair have been in the England Knights squad, with Whitley now in his second season in France having started at Widnes.
Front-rower Butler is a product of the Broncos academy but they are struggling to plan for next year with no certainty yet over promotion and relegation and their parachute payment from Super League only covering 2020.
London coach Danny Ward said: “It’s impossible to do any planning.
“We’re nowhere near serious conversations with anyone.
“The potential difference in central funding is £1.8m for a Super League club or £300,000 in the Championship – they are worlds apart.”