SWINTON Lions have six reasons to thank their big brothers St Helens – centre Dave Hull, hooker Alex McClurg, prop Chris Tyrer, second rower Neil Rigby, utility back Chris Frodsham and loose forward Craig Ashall.

For they are the talented players that have come Swinton’s way since forming a sporting partnership with the Super League giants. And Lions coach Paul Kidd insists that many more youngsters will be arriving from Saints in the years to come.

Kidd said: "The link was started at the back end of 2006 before coming to fruition in 2007 and we couldn’t ask for a better club to be linked with. Saints are one of the biggest rugby league clubs in the world and the player development at Knowsley Road is superb.

"They are the ideal club to be taking young players from and, in that sense, our partnership with Saints gives us an advantage over our Championship One rivals.

"The staff at St Helens have been fantastic with us since the link was made. They take the link seriously. We are communicating with them all of the time and, like us, they want the link to grow.

"We have already gained six players from the link and there will be more to come.

"We may even take players on loan from them in the coming season and there is the possibility of us getting St Helens players on long-term loans too.

"Dave Hull and Alex McClurg are the latest arrivals after joining us in the close season.

"If they do as well in the coming season as Chris Tyrer, Neil Rigby, Chris Frodsham and Craig Ashall have done for us we will be laughing.

"And I am sure that they will do as they are both full of potential and they have been looking very good in pre-season training."

Kidd believes that other Super League clubs should follow St Helens’ lead by forming partnerships with National League clubs.

He said: "It is the way to go and it would lead to England getting stronger at international level.

"With young players coming through the system at a Super League club, only a select few of them will go straight into the first team. By sending the others to a lower league club either on loan or permanently you give them the chance to progress playing against adults.

"That often brings players on a bundle. So by sending young players to National League clubs you stop a lot of raw talent being wasted."