SAINTS full back Paul Wellens has hardly enjoyed much of a pre-season rest - barely seven weeks after walking off the field in the Tri-Nations Final, the homegrown number one was back on the park for last month's friendly at Widnes.

But you get no grumbles from Wellens, who enjoyed an outstanding individual season last term - possibly his best since he first started to nudge his way into the first team as an 18-year-old back in 1998.

Wellens said: "The club has looked after me. And although I had a four week rest period, having less rest is a price worth paying because I want to play Test match rugby.

"It is not something I am going to complain about. I am just looking forward to the season again."

His call up and subsequent outstanding performances for Great Britain in the Tri-Nations was a just reward after a near faultless season at Knowsley Road.

This came after injuries and resulting loss of fitness had contributed to a relatively disappointing 2003.

Wellens, who turns 25 later this month, explained the reasons for the turnaround in fortunes last term - and his hopes for the year ahead.

"Last season I did a lot of the hard work in pre-season with fitness coach Apollo Perelini, which laid the foundations, and even though this year I have had a shorter time I am hoping to do same again.

"I am approaching 2005 with the same attitude as last year - one game at a time and trying to do my best every week," he said.

Although Wellens has been in the Great Britain squad since 2001, last autumn was the first time he really had the opportunity to shine at Test level - and he grabbed the number one jersey with both hands.

"I have not had a great deal of Great Britain chances with Kris Radlinski occupying the full back role. Nobody knows more than myself how good Kris is and that it is no disgrace not to have had more call-ups with him occupying the spot.

"Kris' injury presented me with an opportunity and I would like to think I did myself justice. I really enjoyed being involved and playing a more regular role in the squad.

"I think Brian Noble will probably wipe the slate clean again and do what he did last year - pick players on form.

"Maybe if I play as well, or even improve on my performances last year, I may get the nod again."

Losing major finals has been a rare occurrence for Wellens at Saints - which in a way possibly made the Tri-Nations defeat even harder to stomach.

"It was quite a gutting experience because we put in a lot of hard work in the seven weeks we were together.

"There was a real sense of belief that we could beat the Aussies in the final. I think perhaps we were over-confident and on the day everything the Aussies touched turned to gold.

"On the other hand all we tried failed to come off. You have those days in rugby but we will certainly be aiming to bounce back."

But for the time being Wellens' thoughts are on more domestic matters, with Super League kicking off a week tomorrow.

"It is going to be a very exciting season. We have a young squad, with only one player over 30 in Paul Anderson.

Class

"Paul's attitude to training has been brilliant and Jamie Lyon has brought some added class to the side and settled in really well.

"All this stuff about Jamie being on the first plane back is just nonsense. He is enjoying life in England will be a major asset for us.

"He is a quality player - to get an Aussie test centre as young as Jamie to come over here was a tremendous boost, especially after we have overcome the disappointment of losing Martin Gleeson last year.

"When you add in that all our younger lads are a year more experienced, you can understand why there is so much enthusiasm," Wellens added.