Percival pens new deal with Saints

England international Mark Percival has penned a two-year contract extension keeping him at St Helens until at least the end of the 2026 season. 

The 29-year-old centre has spent all his professional playing career with the Saints and is a proud product of the Saints youth system. The now 29-year-old first joined the Scholarship ranks at the age of fourteen before progressing through the Academy to become an outstanding regular in the Red V.

? The Prince.#COYS pic.twitter.com/r2NiGiAteo
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 15, 2024

A delighted Mark Percival spoke to saintsrlfc.com about the news and said: 

"I'm happy, I'm over the moon to be staying here for another two years, I'm buzzing! I love it at this club, I especially love the lads in the group that we've created, I've been here since I was about fourteen so I couldn't think of anywhere else I would rather be. 

"I have always felt like this is home, I've never really looked elsewhere at all and whenever I've been offered to sign here, I've always wanted to sign and get it done quickly because I couldn't see myself playing anywhere else."

"I still feel like I've got a lot to give and will just give everything until I can't walk, which will probably end up the result!"

Percival boasts a glittering trophy record in his career to date, and whilst the World Club Challenge was one of his greatest achievements, he insists that both he and the former four-times Super League Champions St Helens want to bring home more silverware in 2024:

"The World Club Challenge was massive and it is something that will live with me forever, it is the best thing that I've probably ever done as a player. The disappointment of not being able to come and win again, whether it was the Challenge Cup or the Grand Final, it's something that we're all used to getting to. To not do that last year was quite disappointing, so I think we are all raring to go, everyone's had a good pre-season and been ripping in. We're excited for the year ahead.

"I think it gives us that 'something' - we want to show that we're not done, people think we're not going to turn up. We've been the Champions for a long time - we're not anymore and we really want to get back to that."

Paul Wellens, head coach of St Helens, also commented on Percival's contract extension:

"We're delighted that Percy [Percival] has decided to extend his stay with us, he's been here a long time and is almost part of the furniture now. We don't take that for granted, he is a special player and a special person.

"Percy has been integral to the success that we have had here and has the utmost respect from every member of the playing group and coaching staff. As a Club, we are always delighted when we can retain our better players, and Mark Percival is certainly one of those."