Man of Steel Contenders: Jack Welsby

It's hard to believe Jack Welsby is just 22-years-old. The St Helens full-back has a CV most players could only dream of - and he's just getting started.

Welsby has won three Grand Finals, a Challenge Cup Final and a World Club Challenge. He has appeared in the last three Super League Dream Teams in three different positions, is a two-time Super League Young Player of the Year and has now been nominated for the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award for the second consecutive season.

This year, he has made the full-back spot his own. An ever-present during the 2023 season, Welsby has been a reliable and consistent figure in the St Helens squad. 

? Jack Welsby talks about wanting to get the job done for Louie & Robes this Saturday in our final home game of the season

Watch the chat with Super Jack in full on Saints TV!

? https://t.co/zKbksP4iTo#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 28, 2023

"I'm just trying to do whatever I can to get here," were Welsby's words after being inducted into the 2023 Dream Team. 

"The last two years I've been out of position and this year is the first one in my most recognisable position. To nail down a spot in the Dream Team is pretty special."

He finished the regular season with 27 try assists in as many games, as well as crossing the whitewash for 12 tries himself. The England international contributed to over a third of St Helens' tries this season - an astonishing figure from a superstar of the competition.

Welsby's 2023 season began in the Southern Hemisphere. St Helens travelled to Sydney to take on NRL Premiers, Penrith Panthers, in a bid to be crowned World Club Champions.

A Player of the Match performance from Welsby - which included a try and try assist - helped Saints secure World Club glory against Penrith and reaffirmed Welsby's stature as a superstar of the sport.

The boy from Wigan who won it all as a Saint ??#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/wZJVipz0Dy
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) February 18, 2023

Since then, he has continued to excel. In 2023 alone, he tops the charts for tackle breaks and offloads and has become one of the most potent attacking threats in Super League.

But it's the defensive element of Welsby's game that has truly come of age this year. Playing under one of Super League's best ever defensive full-backs, Paul Wellens, has developed Welsby into the complete full-back - equipped at scoring, setting up and preventing tries.

Despite Welsby's endless accolades, his feet remain firmly on the ground. His confidence and ability is complimented by a modesty that's seen all too often within the rugby league community. 

And irrespective of the outcome on Tuesday Night when the 2023 Man of Steel is announced, you can expect Welsby to feature in these conversations for many years to come.