St Helens face the task of rebounding from their worst-ever Super League season and despite being under a new coach for 2027, they’ll face a very familiar problem to the one that has plagued them in recent years.

That problem has been and remains a lack of clarity over what their strongest spine is with the club’s starting one, six, seven and nine far from certain, even less so after their latest signing.

St Helens kicked off the week by signing Tom Forber from rivals Wigan Warriors with the young hooker arriving at Saints after struggling for game time since his breakout 2024 campaign, during which he featured in the Grand Final win over Hull KR.

Having played 11 games that year, Forber played just 11 for the Cherry and Whites across 2025 and 2026 and with the emergence of Taylor Kerr, the 23-year-old hooker has moved on.

He becomes St Helens’ second hooker signing ahead of 2027 alongside Canberra Raiders’ Tom Starling, adding to a dummy-half depth chart that includes veteran Daryl Clark, as well as homegrown talents Jake Burns and Tom Humprheys – the latter of whom was a standout after debuting last year.

Ironically, Saints’ bigger problem across the past two seasons has been around finding their best one, six and seven but they’ve now added a headache at hooker causing more questions around their best spine for 2027.

What is St Helens’ best spine in 2027?

Full-back

The number one position has been contentious ever since the signing of Tristan Sailor who despite being signed as a six, has played his best rugby out of full-back.

That’s coincided with a dip in the form of Jack Welsby, who has also been hampered by injury, with Welsby now no longer England’s clear number one but incoming head coach Kevin Walters has signalled the Englishman is his number one.

Reports from Love Rugby League have suggested that the Red Vee could make yet another signing and target New Zealand’s Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who Catalans Dragons were previously linked to, and despite being versatile across the backs, the NRL man would be another hat thrown into the ring at full-back.

Even if Kevin Walters is firm in the belief of who he believes should play one, until performances click in the new year, questions will remain.

Halves

One man previously seen as an option at full-back before moving to centre and then becoming a revelation in the halves in young talent Harry Robertson, who at 20 is a star in the making.

Robertson was among Saints’ best performers in 2026 and whilst he’ll have a different playing partner in 2027, he’ll surely be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

The man alongside him may well be the second name in the XIII and that’s Sean O’Sullivan, another of Saints’ overseas signings for 2027. Arriving from the NRL,the 28-year-old has 66 NRL appearances to his name and has played in some of the competition’s best systems, including Penrith’s.

One worry with O’Sullivan would be that he’s already being linked with an NRL return, in particular a move to the PNG Chiefs for 2028, meaning Saints could be looking for yet another half this time next year – something that isn’t ideal for Robertson’s development as the club’s long-term six.

Other halves options at St Helens include fellow youngster George Whitby, however, he will miss the first half of the year due to an ACL injury. Tristan Sailor or Jack Welsby, whoever doesn’t play full-back, will be another option.

Hooker

The position that has been nailed and obvious these past two years when the rest of the spine confusion was evident was hooker but the signing of two number nines and last season’s emergence of Tom Humphreys creates a dilemma.

Daryl Powell ended the season injured but there’s no doubt that he is one of England and Super League’s finest number nines but set to turn 34 in February and with just one year left on his contract, he could take a back seat.

That would likely be for Tom Starling, who has penned a three-year deal and has 156 NRL appearances to his name, but the question would then remain as to how to get game time for fellow addition Tom Forber and up and coming talent Tom Humphreys.

Jake Burns, who has struggled with injuries, is another option that Kevin Walters will have to consider but like Clark, he’s also in the final year of his contract.

Saints’ best spine: Jack Welsby, Harry Robertson, Sean O’Sullivan, Tom Starling

Depth options: Tristan Sailor (full-back and scrum-half), George Whitby (half-back), Daryl Clark, Tom Forber, Jake Burns, Tom Humphreys (all hooker)

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