WHEN Jack Welsby chased after and touched down Tommy Makinson's rebounding drop goal attempt, the second blue jersey motoring into the picture was another first time Grand Finalist.

Despite clocking up a remarkable 69 tackles, James Bentley still had enough petrol left in the tank to put in one last big effort.

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A first Grand Final win is a fitting reward for the 23-year-old who has made the right edge second row berth his own after proving his worth to the team in multiple positions pre-lockdown.

The former Bradford Bull, who joined Saints ahead of the 2018 campaign, has had spells at nine and centre in the red vee.

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But since the resumption in August, Bentley displaced popular second rower Dom Peyroux, proving possession is nine tenths of the law and giving the coach no opportunity to drop him.

Bentley's energy, enthusiasm and aggression have been an often unsung cog in the Saints' play in this title-winning season.

But his qualities are not lost on coach Kristian Woolf, who is delighted with Bentley's progress in this break out season.

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"James Bentley was outstanding," he said of the packman's Grand Final effort.

"But he has been outstanding all year and is a terrific kid because he gives you so much as a player.

"He is in the mould of James Graham, in the sense that he is the kind of bloke that gives you so much every week.

"I am really proud of the way he has developed and happy he is at the club and we are going to keep him here for a long time, that is for sure."