Bill Leyland and Dezaria Join Saints: Two Short-Term Signings Before Wigan Derby Reveal Squad Strain
St Helens have added bill leyland and Jordan Dezaria to their squad on short-term loan ahead of the Good Friday derby with Wigan, a move designed to plug holes after a heavy defeat and a cascade of injuries. The pair join after Hull Kingston Rovers’ recent emphatic 52-10 win over Saints, stepping in as the club seeks immediate reinforcements for the Betfred Super League clash this Friday evening (ET).
Bill Leyland and Dezaria: short-term recruits ahead of Wigan
Hooker bill leyland and prop Jordan Dezaria have linked up with St Helens for valuable match minutes, with both players set to be available for the first-team squad this Friday evening (ET) against Wigan Warriors. Hull KR confirmed the arrangements, noting the loan is intended to give the players game time while providing the Saints with short-term strengthening. The signings follow a heavy 52-10 loss by St Helens to Hull KR, where the scale of the defeat intensified the need for immediate cover.
Why this matters right now
The timing of the loans is directly linked to an injury list that has left St Helens considerably weakened. The squad absences include Mark Percival, Matty Lees, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Jacob Host, Nene Macdonald, Jake Burns and Alex Walmsley. With those names sidelined, the Saints’ decision to bring in bill leyland and Dezaria is a short-term corrective measure aimed at shoring up key positions ahead of a high-stakes derby fixture.
Beyond the immediate matchday implications, the loans highlight the pressure clubs face in maintaining squad depth across a congested schedule. The Saints described their roster as “severely stretched at present, ” and the use of short-term loans signals a pragmatic approach: acquiring players already match-fit and familiar with Super League standards.
Expert perspectives and broader consequences
Saints head coach Paul Rowley framed the move as mutually beneficial: “Both players will add quality to our squad, which is severely stretched at present. As is often the case with loan deals, this will serve to assist all parties. It is an opportunity for the players to gain valuable match minutes, and it is a short-term strengthening of our squad. ” The comment underlines the dual rationale — immediate competitive need for St Helens and playing opportunity for the athletes involved.
From Hull KR’s standpoint, the club confirmed the pair would link up with the Saints this week and wished both players well for the Friday fixture. The club noted bill leyland is in his second season at Craven Park and a former London Broncos player, while Jordan Dezaria brings Super League experience after time with Catalans Dragons and has recently joined Hull KR this season. Context from the signing details also notes Dezaria joined the reigning world champions prior to the 2026 season but has yet to make his debut for that side.
The short-term nature of the loans limits long-term disruption for both clubs but raises questions about squad planning and resilience. For St Helens, the strategy is a stop-gap that preserves competitive balance for a derby fixture. For Hull KR, offering match minutes to players like bill leyland and Dezaria both aids their development and signals cooperative player-management practices between clubs in the competition.
As the Saints prepare to face Wigan this Friday evening (ET), the immediate test will be whether these last-minute additions can translate into on-field stability and blunt the fallout from recent injuries. Will the short-term signings deliver the intended lift for St Helens, and what will this say about the club’s depth management going forward — particularly if injuries persist and the season tightens?
