SAINTS boss Paul Wellens has hailed the often-unseen work of a trio of his unsung squad members.

Those highlighted were last night’s try-scoring wing Jon Bennison, plus regular 18th and 19th men Sam Royle and Ben Davies.

The trio have one thing in common – a willingness to put the team first, even when not selected.

The 21-year-old Bennison, a full back by trade, but a player who has largely occupied the wing spot since Regan Grace departed in 2022, continues to battle to retain his place.

And he did his case no harm again with last night’s performance and the way he took his try.

Wellens said: “He probably wasn’t the kid in the Academy where everyone was saying, ‘he'll go on and play first team’.

“He was a kid with a lot of effort, I remember Kristian was the coach at the time and we invited a few of the younger lads to training and we kind of just look for each and noticed that he just kept putting himself where the action was.

“He was all effort, all the enthusiasm and I know what that's what this playing group really value.

“So he very quickly made himself a part of the group off the back of that type of thing.

“And he's improved off the back of that, his qualities have got better.

“He's got more comfortable in in the environment. He's got more comfortable on the big stage, obviously still young, but he played in a Grand Final.

“So we have every confidence that whenever Jon's called on called upon, he can go out there and do a good job.”

Saints is a tough side for players on the fringes of the 17 to get a shot, with Davies only having one shot off the bench in the season opener so far and Royle waiting for his first shout since September.

Wellens said: "Ben Davies and Sam Royle have been 18th and 19th man every game this year, which if you're a player, that's probably the toughest gig out of everybody in the stadium because you're a couple of spots off getting the game, which is absolutely what you desperately want.

“But you're also sat there really wanting to be involved.

“And I can't speak highly enough of them two blokes because despite the disappointment of not playing – they turn up every week, they have a real attitude around putting the team first.

“They don't let the disappointment show to the rest of the group, although I know as the coach they are disappointed and I want them to just be disappointed that they're not playing.

“But they don’t let it show and don't let it affect their quality when they're on the training field and that's a real great sign for them two as young men.”