Well done Wello. You are still a star and you have made a saddened man very happy.

Quality player and nice bloke, good luck for the future.

Remarkable man is Wello, brave as they come on the pitch and a gentleman off it. Those glorious years when he became part of the dynasty playing at the top of his game from 2002 to 2008, he didn,t need electric pace always broke the first tackle and arrived on time to stop what looked like a certain try.

Hope they give him a honourable send off on the home pitch in one of the latter games……….…..he deserves a standing ovation for his loyalty and servitude.

great player always gave his all,good luck paul in whatever you do

all the best for the future from a Rhino's fan. Met him at the 2013 World Cup,what a nice,friendly lad he is .

Just to add to what so many have said on here. Wellens has been a superb ambassador for Saints and a fantastic clubman. All any speccie can ask is that a player gives 100% when he takes to the field. Wellens did that for Saints, a true professional in every respect. Good luck to him in whatever the future holds.

Fantastic player for you guys. All the best wello for the future. From a Wigan Warriors fan

He has been a tremendous player for Saints and a real credit to the game. Has always commanded the greatest of respect over at Headingley as the tributes being posted now on Southstander clearly show.

I would like to add my voice to the congratulations to Wello on a fantastic career, a true professional and proper Club man, from a Reds Fan.

A think a lot of fans (regardless of their loyalties) empathized with Wellens when he fell to his knees after the final whistle at Old Trafford. And I wasn't the only person who found his actions moving.

For a brief moment the shutters rolled back and you could see right into the heart of his soul. His face was that of a man scarred not by physical injury but the mental anguish of so many heartbreaking defeats. When he looks to the sky almost in supplication you sense that a terrible burden had been lifted from his shoulders. The thick lines and crevasses cut deep into his face by age seem to evaporate and in that split second you see the familiar boyish features of the Paul Wellens who won his first Grand Final so many years ago.

People love to talk about skills and talent and artistry - and yes, those things are important. But before all of that fans want players who CARE AS MUCH ABOUT THE CLUB AS THEY DO. It's a purity which no amount of money can buy and it isn't for sale anyhow.

Cathartic moments such as these involving a shared spiritual and emotional state are rare in the game. But their effect on fans is enormous. This is why stories about players like Paul Wellens, Jamie Peacock, James Graham, Sean Edwards etc. etc. will live on for generations whilst the exploits of perhaps more gifted individuals are lost forever in the chaotic maelstrom of time.

Sky just paid him great respect on boots n all.

I think all those players you mention have/had one thing in common. They hated losing more than they enjoyed winning.

Paul Wellens has been an absolutely fantastic player throughout his career at both Saints,GB and England

Without sounding or meaning to be disrespectful he was without a doubt the most dependable full back that SL has ever produced

He always seemed to play the game so effortlessly,but this was down to his outstanding ability to read the game in both attack and defense,He always seemed to be in the right position when it mattered

The only part of his game that was sadly missing was that extra yard of pace and if he had possessed this he would have been on a par with Billy Slater IMO

I sincerely wish him all the very best in his new coaching venture at the Saints

Respect Wello,You certainly deserve it

I hope he enjoys the retirement. In the end he has pushed his body to the limit, and probably beyond.

He has in some sense lived the dream, to play for your home town club and to reach the pinnacle of the game too at the same club. He's was a great lad, as a lad and it's has been a pleasure to see someone you knew as a youngster, go on to do what most of us only dream of as young kids.

All the best for the future Paul.

Jp's thoughts regarding Wello www.therhinos.co.uk/matchdaytv/? ... a&id=21244

Jp's thoughts regarding Wello www.therhinos.co.uk/matchdaytv/? ... a&id=21244

Such is Wello's status in the game that the Rhinos' website has video of Jamie Peacock paying tribute. I can't remember if they've ever done this on the retirement of any other player of an opposition club.

[urlhttp://www.therhinos.co.uk/matchdaytv/?play=media&id=21244[/url

As many have said he didn't have great pace but he almost invariably won collision returning the ball and his positional play and understanding of the game was awesome.
Glad he still has a future in the Rugby League...he should make a pretty good coach.

Edit: (Sorry still writing as Biff posted same link)

The best British full back of his generation and more importantly a top bloke.

Radlinski was better



On a serious note people called his pace but he read the game so well he very rarely needed any. If he had been 10 yards faster he would have been the best fullback ever in my eyes.

He was quite simply the best, for many years. People can discuss his pace and whatnot but the truth is for years no St Helens fan would have swapped him for any other full back on earth. He made up for every flaw he had physically with sheer effort, will and training. He made himself the best he could ever be and the reality is that best is arguably this country's greatest ever full back. He was superb. Deserves every accolade he gets and all the very best for the future.

From a rhinos fan good luck, a rock solid full back, also over the years a superb committed saints player through and through.

Tribute from Brian McDermott: skip to 3.20mins

[urlhttp://www.therhinos.co.uk/matchdaytv/?play=media&id=21240[/url

Nice tribute from Radlinski www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-7327134

Nice tribute from Radlinski www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-7327134

I thought Wellow was an extremely talented fullback because he made the role look effortless. He was always there just when he needed to be, in attack or defence, and it was years before I remember him dropping a bomb or fumbling a kick. I can't think of anything that would make him a more talented fullback. Pace isn't a talent; it's a genetic inheritance. Some of the fastest rugby league players have had little else going for them.

He's been the rock at Saints for years and we will miss both his talent and his enthusiasm for his club and the game as a whole. I hope that the next phase of his life is as successful and rewarding for him as his playing career has been. It's good to know he will still be around the club once he has recovered from his operation (which I hope is successful).

Thanks for the memories Wello!

Wello could read the game so well which compensated for that lack of yard in pace hence the name "Mr Radar".
His lack of pace was really down to his problem of not able to get accelaration from a standing start, once he got going he was quite quick. I don,t think a slow full back could score 230+ tries.
The club has been blessed with great pivotal players at 1,6,7,9 and 13, we are coming to the end of the era as we struggle for stability and quality in these position.
Wello had set the standard very high for the no 1 position over the years will it be replicated again at the club, we don,t know.

Wish him all the best for the future. Been a pleasure (and quite often a pain) watching him over the years. A great competitor who never gave up.