SAINTS and England centre Mark Percival has been awarded a testimonial year in 2023 as he approaches his 10th season in the red vee.

The classy and tough 28-year-old Widnesian three-quarter has enjoyed a trophy-laden career – so far scoring 108 tries and booting 233 goals in 199 senior appearances.

And those points have come when it mattered, too, kicking three goals in Saints’ tense and tough 2014 Grand Final win over Wigan.

That would be the first of four Grand Final wins for Percival – chalking up tries in the 2019 and 2022 successes at Old Trafford.

Playing in the latter of those showed the gutsy determination and toughness of Percival, who had missed the previous four months with a troublesome bone bruising of the knee.

The try he scored also showed Percival’s vision and game awareness, making the telling run inside that allowed Jack Welsby to dab the ball through the in-goal for the centre to race on to.

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He re-injured himself in that game, but is currently going through his rehab and will be fighting fit for the season’s start and expects to play in the pre-season trial game.

Percival said: “St Helens has been my life ever since I joined the Academy when I was 14 years of age.

“The past nine years as a first team player have been a rollercoaster of a ride and it doesn’t get much better than winning four Grand Finals in a row and a Challenge Cup the year before.

“I am now looking forward to getting back fit and going again next season in what will be a proud year for me and my family in my Testimonial year.

“Thank you to the Club and the RFL and I am excited about welcoming all the Saints fans to a pre-season trial game and a number of events in 2023.”

Percival, who came through the club’s junior system after joining from Halton Farnworth Hornets aged 14, immediately caught the eye when then coach Nathan Brown handed him a debut against Leeds in March 2013.

Although Saints lost that night, Percival oozed raw talent as he repeatedly made clean breaks to trouble the Rhinos defence.

The following year he had consolidated his position in the first team – the year Saints won the League Leaders’ Shield and the Grand Final.

His form in subsequent years earned six England call-ups, including a 2017 World Cup selection. Percival also made the Dream Team.

Over that time, Percival’s game has evolved from the silky-skilled centre with a flick pass, to a hard-running ball carrier – something that has been key to Saints go-forward during this unprecedented run of success.

He still knows where the line is, too, including touchdowns in the 2019 Grand Final win over Salford and last year against Leeds.

In recent years Percival has endured tough injuries – a broken shoulder and then a niggling hamstring wrecked his 2020 – missing the final win over Wigan.

But he has shown resilience and found a way to get out there and still produce the goods.

Saints CEO Mike Rush said: “Mark has been a brilliant servant for our club and he thoroughly deserves his Testimonial year.

“Mark’s performances on the field have been world class for a number of years. He is in my opinion and many others, the best centre in Super League.

“Mark is an example of someone who has worked hard to overcome his injury troubles to shine year on year and ever since he came through our Academy system we knew he would go on to represent his country.

“Off the field Mark is a fantastic ambassador for our club in the community and he regular supports and undertakes charity work and I am sure our fans will get behind him throughout 2023.”

Percival will have a Testimonial match in the new year and this along with the charities he has chosen to support will be announced in due course.