Gutted for him but the right decision for him and the club. What a legend. www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/5044 www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/5046

Gutted for him but the right decision for him and the club. What a legend. www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/5044 www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/5046

Sad, sad day. I've nothing but admiration for Wello. A player that truly knew what it meant to wear the V and who would have thrown himself in front of a tank to help the club.

I've had my issues with his first team status over the last few seasons, but today really is the end of an era.

Absolute St Helens legend. At the centre of everything that Saints have achieved over these last 10-15 years. Courageous, humble, hard working person and player who deserved every award he got in his career. Hope to see him him inspire younger players to come through over the years and if they manage 20% of what Wello achieved then they can say they've had a good career. A real shame some "fans" couldn't see what he has tried to achieve over these last couple of years since his best days have been behind him. Always put the club first and will be remembered as a St Helens legend.

Best of luck Wello.

Time to erect another bronze statue. Certainly worthy of one.

If he had been born with jet heels instead of feet of clay he would probably have been the greatest fullback. Still a great player and deserves all his plaudits.

LEGEND LEGEND LEGEND

I agree. A one club man, great player in his day, gave his all for the red vee.

One for him on another corner of Langtree, and one for Robes when he retires too, leaving a spare corner for future stars to aspire to.

Reading the testimonials from our former coaches reminds you that in his pomp he was not just a leader, a warrior and a loyal club-man but also a genuinely top-class player. Without doubt a St Helens hero of future folklore status. I'm so glad he got to enjoy that one last Grand Final win before hanging up his boots.

An absolutely top guy.

There is little consensus on what gives value to anyone's life : wealth, power, fame are all cited. However, my own personal yardstick has been the value one contributes to improving the lives of one's fellow man. Wellens brought pleasure to hundreds of thousands of people over two decades, and always with humility, humanity and honesty. A genuine role model for all the young people of St Helens and beyond.

I feel privileged to have been able to follow his entire career, and I wish him a return to good health and a long and fruitful post-playing life.

One of the clubs all time greats. In his heyday you couldn't beat him with the ball one on one. Outstanding under pressure. This fella might have scored over 1000 points for his club but the amount of points he prevented going in at our end of the pitch is no doubt many many times that.

Enjoy not getting smashed about for a living, Paul!

Tremendous career, a great ambassador for the club, the game and St Helens. and seems like a bloke you would happily have a pint and a chat with. All the best for the future. (I'm a Rhinos supporter)

A true legend and a real inspiration. I doubt we would have won last year's Grand Final without him on the field and his reaction at the end summed up the feelings of most of us.

Good luck for the future, Paul. I hope you are around our club for many years to come.

Paul Wellens retiring is making me feel old

I think that the relationship between the player and fan changes on the extreme as the fan starts to get older than the player(s)

Wellens is arguably the greatest player in Saints recent history. I say this not because of the talents he possessed but rather those he did not. No player has made more out of the limited natural gifts he was granted at birth. His success was primarily a product of superhuman willpower splashed with a fair degree of intelligence.

People forget that he could quite easily have gone the way of countless "promising but ultimately unsuitable" juniors and left the club circa age 21.

The only player who comes close in this fashion is James Roby.

Had Wellens a fraction of the physical attributes (speed, size, acceleration etc.) other players take for granted he would have smashed every record in the book.

Great player and even better person. Just a shame he didn't go out in glory at old trafford