| Fullname | Matthew Lees |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 4 February 1998 (age 28) |
| Birth place | Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 15 st 10 lb (100 kg) |
| Club 1 | St Helens |
| Year1start | 2017 |
| Year1end | present |
| Appearances 1 | 194 |
| Tries 1 | 6 |
| Goals 1 | 0 |
| Fieldgoals 1 | 0 |
| Points 1 | 24 |
| Club 2 | → Sheffield Eagles |
| Year2start | 2018(DR) |
| Appearances 2 | 6 |
| Tries 2 | 0 |
| Goals 2 | 0 |
| Fieldgoals 2 | 0 |
| Points 2 | 0 |
| Teama | England Knights |
| Yearastart | 2018 |
| Yearaend | 21 |
| Appearancesa | 2 |
| Triesa | 0 |
| Goalsa | 0 |
| Fieldgoalsa | 0 |
| Pointsa | 0 |
| Teamb | England |
| Yearbstart | 2022 |
| Yearbend | 25 |
| Appearancesb | 12 |
| Triesb | 1 |
| Goalsb | 0 |
| Fieldgoalsb | 0 |
| Pointsb | 4 |
| Source | [1][2] |
Matty Lees (born 4 February 1998) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for St Helens in the Super League[3] and the England Knights and England at international level.
He has spent time on loan from Saints at the Sheffield Eagles in the Betfred Championship.
Career
Lees was signed by St Helens from amateur club Rochdale Mayfield at the age of 16.[4] He made his Super League and professional début on 7 September 2017 at Belle Vue against Wakefield. Saints won the game 16-18.
In 2018, he played for the Sheffield Eagles on Dual registration.[5] He made 19 appearances for Saints during the 2018 season, and was nominated for the Super League Young Player of the Year award.[6]
Lees signed a new three-year contract prior to the start of the 2019 season.[4] Although his season was cut short after suffering a bowel injury,[7] he received another nomination for the Young Player of the Year,[8] and was this time voted as the winner of the award.[9]
He played for St Helens in their 8-4 2020 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan at the Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull.[10]
On 17 July 2021, Lees played for St. Helens in their 26-12 2021 Challenge Cup Final victory over Castleford.[11] On 9 October 2021, Lees played for St. Helens in their 12-10 2021 Super League Grand Final victory over Catalans Dragons.[12]
On 24 September 2022, Lees scored the fastest try in Super League Grand Final history after crossing over in the second minute of play during St Helens 24-12 victory over Leeds in the decider.[13]
On 18 February 2023, Lees played in St Helens 13-12 upset victory over Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge.[14] Lees played 26 games for St Helens in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished third on the table. Lees played in St Helens narrow loss against the Catalans Dragons in the semi-final which stopped them reaching a fifth successive grand final.[15]
Lees played 25 matches for St Helens in the 2024 Super League season which saw the club finish sixth on the table. Lees played in St Helens golden point extra-time playoff loss against Warrington.[16]
Lees played 27 games for St Helens in the 2025 Super League season including the clubs 20-12 semi-final loss against Hull Kingston Rovers.[17]
On 1 December 2025 he was announced as the new club captain for 2026[18]
International career
In July 2018 he was selected in the England Knights Performance squad.[19] Later that year he was selected for the England Knights on their tour of Papua New Guinea. He played against Papua New Guinea at the PNG Football Stadium[20] and the Oil Search National Football Stadium.[21]
References
- ^ RLP
- ^
- ^ "Saints bring in fresh faces". St Helens Reporter. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ "Prop Matty Lees rewarded with a new Saints deal". St Helens Star. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Matty Lees joins Eagles on dual-registration". 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ "St Helens’ departing Ben Barba is Super League’s 2018 Man of Steel". The Guardian. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Matty Lees: St Helens forward out for season after suffering perforated bowel". BBC Sport. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Super League: Injured Matty Lees among five shortlisted for Young Player of the Year". BBC Sport. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "St Helens Rugby News: Holbrook and Lees scoop awards". Liverpool Echo. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens". BBC Sport
- ^ "How St Helens players have celebrated their first Challenge Cup win in 13 years". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "Super League Grand Final: Catalans Dragons 10-12 St Helens: Saints win three in a row". BBC Sport
- ^ Bower, Aaron (24 September 2022). "St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final". The Observer
- ^ "St Helens stun Penrith to win World Club Challenge". BBC Sport
- ^ "Paul Wellens Q&A: Saints review of year and a look to 2024". www.sthelensstar.co.uk
- ^ "‘Soul destroying’: Warrington eliminate St Helens in golden drop goal thriller". www.theguardian.com
- ^ "Retiring Waerea-Hargreaves set to miss Grand Final". www.bbc.co.uk
- ^ Aaron Bower (1 Dec 2025). "St Helens unveil new captain as Jonny Lomax passes torch to key man". Love Rugby League
- ^ "Ten new additions in England Knights squad". loverugbyleague. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea vs England Knights". WWOS. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea v England Knights". WWOS. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2019.