St Helens star Regan Grace reveals he was helped on the road to stardom by arch-rivals Wigan

REGAN Grace may be scorching Super League defences but he admits his original aim could not be further from the wing wizard he is becoming.

The Welsh wonder wanted to be a forward!

And had the St Helens ace been spotted properly, he could easily have been on the other side of rugby league’s biggest rivalry at Wigan.

Grace is the discovery of the season after bursting on to the Super League scene and making Wales’ 38-man train-on squad for the World Cup.

Making the trip to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea would represent a phenomenal rise from playing rugby union in the valleys.

But the 20-year-old let slip that he was helped on the way by Wigan after signing up to a college scholarship.

Grace said: “I started playing rugby league for Neath-Port Talbot Steelers but was also playing union.

“The last league team I played for was at Maesteg sixth form, which was a scholarship through Wigan and Wales.

“The course was nine months but nothing came of it, so I went back playing union for Aberavon Harlequins and someone said, ‘We’ve got to get you out there. People might be interested, they might not, but it’s up to you.’

“Saints sent some scouts, I went on trial and ended up signing for them.

“But I didn’t want to be a winger at first, I wanted to be a forward but I was too small. I played a bit in the centres but was signed as a winger-full-back at Saints.”

Grace is now one of the first names on Saints’ teamsheet after scoring eight tries in 16 matches and he has kept his place under new coach Justin Holbrook.

He is one of their stars as they look to crash into the top four through the Super 8s, starting with tonight’s opener at runaway leaders Castleford.

But now his aim is to kick on after telling how the first team came as a shock as he added: “I started with an unexpected debut at Wigan on Good Friday, I didn’t think I’d get in.

“When I was told I was training at the team run, I thought I’d be 18th or 19th man, as that’s what usually happens. It was a weird feeling as I’d been preparing for that moment for three years and then I was like, ‘Woah, it’s here.’

“The night before I couldn’t sleep or anything and I was still nervous when I got there but once I stepped out for the warm up the nerves had gone.

“The key now is consistency. If you want to keep your spot, you’ve got to be consistent in all you do. It doesn’t matter what part of your game you bring, you’ve just got to keep bringing it every week.

“It’s about kicking on now, I think I’ve got loads to learn still. No-one is ever perfect and I’ve just got to keep on improving. I can always keep trying to make myself better.”

Another seven good performances through the Super 8s should book a World Cup slot.

And Grace knows what heading Down Under to face Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Ireland could propel him to a new level.

He said: “Getting there would be a massive confidence boost.

“When I first played for Wales in the European Championship, that gave me a huge boost as did playing Super League as it was that experience of playing against men.

“I never take my Wales place for granted as we’ve a really talented team – it’s good as it makes us more competitive but it makes it harder to get in the squad as the group is so strong.

“And what you do on the field says a lot about you. It is like an audition really. You’re being watched. You might not know it but you never know really who’s watching a game.

“What I do in the remaining games could affect selection for Wales.”