St Helens fans have shown mixed views in the wake of their new head coach and stadium name being revealed.
Ex-Salford boss Paul Rowley was announced as club legend Paul Wellens’ replacement as head coach this week, followed by the club agreeing a 10-year partnership with controversial brewery BrewDog.
Wellens spent his entire playing career at the club with 495 appearances in 18 years before taking over as coach for three years.
He led them to a World Cup Challenge victory in his first year coaching the club back in 2023.
Former England international Rowley was appointed on a three-year deal at the club – he had been due to move into a director of rugby role with Salford.
And despite having plenty of experience with coaching clubs since his retirement from playing in 2007, some fans are unhappy.
Rowley has won a Championship with Leigh Centurions twice, led Toronto Wolfpack to the League One title in their first season as a club, and coached Salford through a financial crisis.
But Saints fans have been quick to jump on Facebook and express their disappointment.
Comments have included: “Saints going for the cheap option once again, when will this change?”
“Exceeded expectations with Salford, but trophies are the only expectation at Saints.”
“I’m not convinced, terrible what happened at Salford but is there not a better option?”
“Bad choice. Wellens gone and Roby had enough. Says it all, bottom of the league coming our way.”
“I personally feel we are a better team under Aussie coaches but that’s just me.”
Despite some of the negativity coming with the appointment of Rowley, there are some fans who feel quite positive with the change.
“Great call, we’d ne good to watch again and we haven’t seen that in a while,” said one.
“IMO Paul Rowley is one of the best coaches in the English game. Hiring an Aussie coach doesn’t always work.”
“Rowley coaches his teams to play expansive attractive rugby. What’s not to like?”
Given the fact Saints won four Grand Finals in a row from 2019-2022, the past three seasons have not been up to standard in the fans’ eyes.
The 2025 season was sub-par to what Saints fans are used to in recent years only winning 19 games out of 32 played.
Despite some disappointing games and a fifth-place finish, the club managed to get into the Super League semi-finals after a cinematic finish against Leeds Rhinos.
The club now face 11 players leaving, with fans expecting a range of new signing to come in.
Fans also had their say on the club’s new partnership with BrewDog, with the brewery also taking the stadium name from previous sponsor Totally Wicked.
BrewDog is a Scottish craft beer company founded in 2007.
In 2025 alone they have closed 10 locations in the UK due to industry challenges and have had several brushes with controversy.
These include allegations of a toxic culture and inappropriate behaviour by former CEO James Watt, misleading advertising, and a backlash over dropping the real living wage.
Watt responded to the living wage issue at the time and said: “Business is incredibly hard, especially when the UK economy is in such poor health, and sometimes you have to make incredibly difficult decisions.”
He told the BBC in 2021 that claims of a “culture of fear” and “toxic attitude” were tough to hear, but said they would help make him a better chief executive.
But in May 2024, Wyatt announced he was stepping down.
The new sponsorship will bring in several new things such as a new bar, kit sponsorship and their beers will be available in the stadium. BrewDog have also said they will contribute to community work in and around the club.
Totally Wicked had been at the club for 13 years and had naming rights since 2016 on a five-year deal which was extended until this year.
Some comments on the BrewDog partnership included:
“It’s a struggling independent brewery failed on Dragons Den.”
“Hope the rugby is better than the ale.”
“This is a disgraceful company, awful decision by Saints.”
“How can you partner with a company that has been shrouded in controversy for toxic work culture including sexism and misogyny.”
