Saints coach Paul Wellens pays tribute Bryn Hargreaves

Family of the former Saints prop confirmed yesterday that Bryn’s body had been found - and they thanked those who had helped in the search from January 2022.

The news was understandably greeted with sadness as it rippled throughout the rugby league world, especially from those who took the field alongside him.

Wellens said: “On behalf of the club, and myself as a former teammate of Bryn’s, I’d like to extend our deepest sympathy to Bryn’s family.

“It was very sad news that we received yesterday that Bryn’s body has been found and it is a deeply upsetting time for everybody, but especially his family.

“I just want to place on record how much a respected person and player Bryn was when he played here and how much of a well-liked member of the team he was.

"And also how good he was to be around, both on and off the field.

“He was a fierce competitor and when I spoke to our team this morning I told them 'Bryn was the type of guy that you guys would have loved to have played with'.

“It is a huge loss and we are very saddened by it.”

After signing from Wigan in 2007, Hargreaves was quickly in at the deep end and within four matches was going toe-to-toe with the Brisbane Broncos in the club’s second World Club Challenge win at Brisbane.

Other landmark dates were the 2008 Challenge Cup Final win over Hull FC at Wembley and three runners up appearances at Old Trafford.

He scored two tries in Saints’ last ever game at Knowsley Road, signing off a week later in the 2010 Grand Final defeat by Wigan.

Bryn had clearly left a lasting impression, both as a player and a person, in his four years at Saints before joining Bradford Bulls.

Something Wellens reflected on - and there was a real sense of affection on behalf of the club when he spoke.

“I have special memories of playing alongside Bryn and the first thing that jumped out when he first came to the club was how competitive he was.

“That real drive to want to win showed up in training straight away and that instantly gained the respect of all his teammates.

“Bryn was certainly an infectious character and we loved having him around.

“He was such an underrated player as well.

“Whenever he played he always got the job done - he was a front rower who played tough but he was also very skilful as well and I think I remember him scoring a hat-trick on one occasion which front rowers don’t often do,” Wellens said.

That hat-trick game was the 58-20 win over Bradford in 2008 - a team he would eventually join two years later.

But Bryn created happy memories off the pitch, too, leading the way at various at functions and events.

“Bryn was a brilliant musician so he would bring his guitar and lead the team songs.

“There are some really fond memories in that respect, and he was always the life and soul of the party when we were out as a team, which we did a fair bit of about that time,” Wellens said.