St Helens head coach Paul Rowley has stepped down from his place with the Super League club with immediate effect lower than a 12 months into the position.
The 51-year-old joined the club earlier than the 2026 season, having beforehand taken cost at Salford Red Devils, ending his tenure there after their financially-challenged 2025 marketing campaign.
Since becoming a member of Saints, nevertheless, the club have struggled for kind and, with an damage disaster, are at present sixth within the desk and 6 factors behind leaders Leeds Rhinos.
They have additionally misplaced six of their previous 10 video games in all competitions with Rowley’s departure introduced previous to Friday’s derby in opposition to Wigan Warriors.
“The decision was an extremely difficult one for all concerned, and we fully recognise the extra challenges that Paul faced with us this particular season,” chairman Eamonn McManus stated.
“We as a club must now look forward and do all within our powers to preserve our position as the most successful club in the history of Super League and to restore our position as a silverware contender going forward.”
Assistant coach Eamon O’Carroll will take over on an interim foundation, the club stated, including it recommended Rowley for his achievements throughout a difficult interval.
Former Ireland worldwide O’Carroll performed for Wigan, Hull FC and Widnes earlier than occurring to coach with the Vikings after his retirement.
Having had a number of spells as assistant at Catalans Dragons, O’Carroll has additionally been head coach at Newcastle Thunder and Bradford Bulls.
Rowley joined a club which had dominated home rugby league within the northern hemisphere on the flip of the last decade, culminating in 4 successive Super League Grand Final wins in addition to a memorable World Club Challenge victory.
Former boss Paul Wellens had opted to not prolong his contract following a season which noticed Saints pull off one of the greatest comebacks ever once they beat Leeds Rhinos in final season’s Super League play-offs.
Rowley stepped in, having led the Red Devils for 4 seasons, the final of which got here in unenviable circumstances with the club plunged into monetary turmoil.
Having begun Rowley’s tenure with a Challenge Cup victory over Workington, Saints began their 2026 Super League marketing campaign with a defeat by Warrington however gained 10 of their following 11 matches in all competitions.
A selected spotlight underneath Rowley’s stewardship got here of their Easter derby comeback win over Wigan however they have been well beaten by their rivals within the Challenge Cup quickly after, throughout which Warriors boss Matt Peet questioned Saints’ identification.
Injuries apart, St Helens’ spiralling kind since that semi-final loss, together with one other dispiriting defeat by Wigan at Magic Weekend and a 46-0 hammering by Toulouse earlier this month, has seen them drop off the tempo on the high and in jeopardy of failing to make the play-offs.
