Canberra Raiders hooker Tom Starling has signed a three-year deal with Super League club St Helens, where he will link up with former Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters from the 2027 season.
St Helens confirmed the signing early on Saturday morning (Australian time), announcing on the club website that the 28-year-old dummy half is their fourth new recruit for 2027 under Walters, their new head coach.
Starling joins Sean O’Sullivan, Christian Tuipulotu and Solomona Faataape as the club’s new signings, with the group set to begin pre-season training in November, Total Rugby League reported.
Eight seasons in Canberra
Starling made his NRL debut with the Newcastle Knights in 2018 before moving to the Raiders, where he has spent the past eight seasons. He has played 156 NRL games, scored 17 tries, won the 2025 minor premiership with Canberra and represented the Prime Minister’s XIII.
He had been contracted to the Raiders until the end of 2027 but was released earlier this year to pursue other opportunities, according to Total Rugby League.
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Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said earlier this month that he understood Starling’s decision. “Tommy has a career to run as well and he had an opportunity with St Helens and he totally understands where Owen Pattie is at,” Stuart told the Canberra Times, as reported by Love Rugby League.
Walters the big draw
Starling played under Walters for the Prime Minister’s XIII and said a phone call from the coach sealed the move.
“I’ve seen how intense he is with his training, and so when Kevvie called and asked if I’d be interested in coming, he spoke about his plans for the Club and what he wants to achieve. I was ready to go there and then!” Starling told the St Helens website.
“This is such a great opportunity to be able to join such a prestigious club as St.Helens. I’m a bit of a rugby league nerd, so I keep up to date with Super League, and I’ve always admired the competition from afar, the style of rugby and the toughness of it.”
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St Helens chief executive Abi Ekoku said: “Tom’s desire to join the Club has been infectious, and his hunger for success stands out.”
Saints finished seventh in Super League in 2026 and missed the play-offs, BBC Sport reported, and Walters is now rebuilding the squad for next season.
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