Jack Welsby likened to Tedesco and Trbojevic by team-mate Curtis Sironen

St Helens recruit Curtis Sironen has been impressed by a handful of new team-mates so far in pre-season – including full-back Jack Welsby. 

Sironen signed a two-year deal with St Helens from Manly Sea Eagles for 2022.

The 28-year-old featured in more than 100 NRL games with stints with Wests Tigers and Manly.

Those clubs included playing alongside full-backs James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic. And the back-rower has likened the St Helens’ number one Welsby to the Australian pair.

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“A freakish sort of skill”

Speaking on St Helens’ media day, Sironen said: “I’ve played with Tom a fair few years at Manly. He was always a really great player.

“You come across talented guys who every couple of games will do something freakish and you know that they have that in their game.

“Last year, he was like that every time he touched the ball. You knew something was going to happen.

“The confidence he has I’ve never seen anything like that. He’s come out of big injuries stronger. The way he works on his body with all those hamstring injuries, the way he rehabbed himself and turned his body into a man’s body.

“Nobody could tackle him. We were at training and you just look at him like ‘how are you doing that sort of stuff?’. He’s just a freak.

“I played with (James) Tedesco earlier. He was a similar player. Obviously at Roosters is where he really kicked on.

“But Turbo year last year was probably one of the best individual years ever. I was pretty lucky to be in and around and watching him do that.

“I haven’t seen many players who are as good as he is.”

Curtis Sironen on new team-mates

However, when asked who has impressed him so far this season at his new club, Sironen replied: “Jack Welsby is someone who I can see those similar traits in a footballer.

“Like instincts and just a freakish sort of skill and things like that I’ve seen him do at training. It’s similar to the guys like Teddy and Turbo have. Not putting any pressure on him to be like guys like that! 

“Especially at such a young guy with the confidence he has too and a big voice in the team, it’s something I’m really impressed with.”