PAUL Wellens expressed his delight in the display of ‘one of the most well-liked members of the team’ in Saints’ 46-6 win at Hull FC.

Jake Burns deputised at hooker for Daryl Clark in the final quarter of the match, scoring two tries in only his second Super League appearance.

The 24-year-old, who made his top-flight debut off the bench in the home defeat to Castleford Tigers last month, only turned full-time ahead of this season after starting out his working career as an accountant.

“He’s a great player,” said Wellens of the former Halton Farnworth Hornets amateur.

“He’s probably one of the most well-liked members of the team and you could see the reaction when he scored.

“Jake only came full-time last year and he’s travelled a very different route than everybody else and was working as an accountant 18 months ago.

“Now he’s out there playing with players that he used to look up to and never thought he would get the chance to play alongside.

“So it’s great for us all to see Burnsy get the rewards for not just the hard work he’s done in this game but the hard work he’s done for some time.

“He was playing amateur rugby, working as an accountant, and then we gave him an opportunity in our reserves (as a part-time professional) and he’s grasped it with both hands.”

Burns, a former Widnes Moorfield Tigers junior, initially joined Saints on a three-month trial in January 2022.

He caught the eye with his work ethic and finished the season as Saints’ Reserves Player of the Year.

In 2023 his continuing hard work led to him stepping into the first-team training squad and he spent time on loan with North Wales Crusaders, for whom he started at hooker in their run to the League One Play-Off Final.