SAINTS have extended the contracts of a quartet of first team squad players by a further year.

Winger/full back Jon Bennison, hooker Jake Burns, centre/back row Ben Davies and half back Will Roberts have all agreed to one-year contract extensions.

The four will remain part of Head Coach Paul Wellens’ First Team squad for the 2025 Betfred Super League season.

The 21-year-old Bennison joined St Helens as Scholarship player, having played junior rugby at Thatto Heath Crusaders and West Bank Bears junior.

He progressed through the Saints Academy, making his senior debut at full back in the 2021 season but breaking into the first team properly in 2022 when Regan Grace suffered two significant injuries.

He was on the flank when Saints secured a fourth-straight Super League title, scoring in both the semi-final and the Grand Final against Leeds.

He has jostled with Tee Ritson for the wing spot in 2024, but secured the jersey for most of the latter half of the campaign – grabbing his first career hat-trick at home to Castleford Tigers.

With Saints signing Kyle Feldt and Lewis Murphy for next year, Bennison will provide cover and depth for the role and will continue to battle for his place when pre-season resumes next month.

Bennison said: “I’m absolutely delighted, I love playing here and I’ve found it home for the past three years, so really delighted to stay for another year. I’d like to build on what's come before and I’m really looking forward to next year.

“Next season we're looking to get silverware and find success, because that's what this club deserves, that's what the players deserve with their effort. We're really excited for that challenge.

“The lads are all hungry and really desperate for more success next year. When we're at home and we hear the West Stand chanting, it gives you another lift.

"Throughout this year we've felt that support, certain times when you're defending your own line and you hear the crowd erupts behind you, it gives you a new lease of life and pushes you that bit further.

“We can't wait to rip in next year with the new signings and our young lads, it’s going to be really exciting, and we hope fans can't wait either.”

(Image: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)

Wellens added: “Ever since he came into the first team environment Benno has excelled in terms of his work ethic, and that really endeared him to the group from day one.

“He has a real thirst to improve as a player and he still has improvement in him and wants to find that improvement. I think he has shown at the back end of the year, in big games, he knows how to get the job done.

“Competition for places is crucial to any team that has ambitions to be successful. In any position, competition drives standards. Jon is a player that really does add value and drives those standards that we value.”

Hooker Burns did not have a conventional route to the Saints first team, with the 24-year-old hooker making his debut last year.

Burns originally joined on a three-month trial in January 2022 after being spotted at community club Halton Farnworth Hornets, and became Saints’ 2022 Reserves Player of the Year.

In 2023 he impressed enough on loan with North Wales Crusaders that he was called up to join the senior Saints side for the 2024 season.

Burns made his senior Saints debut at home against Castleford Tigers, scoring two tries at Hull FC the following week.

(Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

Burns said: “It’s been an amazing experience, something that that you dream of when you're a kid, so I'm just very thankful for the opportunity and grateful to the Club for giving me it. I'm even more made up to stay for another year, so can't wait to get going again.

“Honestly, I didn't really expect to play as many games as I did this past year. I think I was just grateful each week for the opportunity to be in and around all the boys and staff who have been helping me out.”

“Next year, it's just about working hard, and hopefully as a team we can kick on and go win some silverware.”

Wellens commented: “Keeping Burnsy was an absolute no-brainer, I think everybody's seen what he can add to the team when he's played this year. I don't think he envisaged getting the number of opportunities that that he did, but with any opportunity you've got to grasp it with both hands. Jake’s done exactly that.

“We’re delighted that we can reward him with an extension to his contract, and like the rest of the players that we are announcing to have extended, Jake will continue to work hard to find the improvements he needs to find.”

The versatile Davies, also 24, is another former Halton Farnworth Hornets and Widnes Moorfield junior.

A product of Widnes Vikings’ academy he progressed through to make his senior and professional debut in 2019 and played for England’s Under 18s Academy before joining the Saints from the 2020 season.

(Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

Davies made his senior debut in 2020 against Salford Red Devils at centre and in 2022 he was used at centre and at number 6, and scoring eight tries in that campaign.

Given Saints’ injury situation, he has featured 11 times on both of the past two seasons and has featured frequently in the matchday squad as the 18th player.

Davies said: “I’m happy and chuffed, I know it’s been a tough year for everyone at the Club but I’m happy it’s over the line and I can rip into next year and start pre-season.

“I want to play and get more game time; it is tough with the high-level players we have got in the team but whenever I get that chance, I’ve got to show I can play at this level.”

Wellens added: “Ben is a really, really well-liked member of the group, a hard-working kid, and a knowledgeable rugby league player.

“He is someone that the lads love having around, and I know he's been frustrated at times this season, which is understandable as he has been quite often in that 18th-man role – being just one step away from the matchday team.

“I can’t praise him highly enough on how he's handled those situations because he has never let his own personal disappointments become a distraction for anybody else. Ben has a real drive to force his way into our team.”

Will Roberts is a young, talented half-back who has come through the Saints Academy and joined the Scholarship side aged 14 from Warrington community club Ryland Sharks.

Excelling with the Academy and Reserves teams, Roberts’ 2023 season began well and he went on to make his professional debut with dual-registration partners Swinton Lions in the summer.

However, a serious knee injury ended his 2023 season early and the hard work in rehab began.

In 2024, Roberts returned to the field firstly with our Reserves and then back on dual-registration with Swinton, followed by a short-term loan with Rochdale Hornets.

With this extension, the 19-year-old offers further competition in the halves for the 2025 Saints First Team.

Roberts said: “It was tough missing a big part of the season but getting back on the field and being able to stay fit, overall, I’m happy with how the season played out.

“Going back to where I did it originally with Swinton and it all feeling fine again was good for me too. In the end it was just about getting back on the field and playing against blokes. I needed game time and got the chance with Rochdale too, and that was more good experience for me.”

Roberts knows what is needed to keep pushing for a first team start and add competition to his fellow half-backs.

“The debut is obviously what I want, it’s what you want when you were a kid, and I’d love to make my Super League debut. Hopefully, that will be this year if I train well enough and play well enough,” he said.

Wellens added: “Will is a brilliant young man, another well liked member of the group and he has had some adversity coming off the back of a really serious injury.

“This season just gone has been about getting him back playing, getting back to enjoying his rugby league. Will has gone through that now and is probably at a pivotal point in his career in terms of the chance to do a full-time pre-season, fully fit – his first time to do that.

“I'm sure we'll find some strong improvements in his game, so next year is a huge year for him and we're all wanting him to do well. We are all here to support him in that.”

In terms of further retention, there is still no confirmation that centre Konrad Hurrell will remain in the red vee for another year.

Based on the coach’s past comments any movement there will be inevitably be dependent on what the specialist reports on the neck injury that prematurely ended his 2024 campaign.

Saints have brought in three new faces from the NRL in Feldt, Murphy and Tristan Sailor but as yet the void created by the departure of Sione Mata'utia remains unfilled.