Wigan Warriors v St Helens - From Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Bulls to the Grand Final

James Bentley, the energetic St Helens second-row who will appear in his first Super League Grand Final, is one such player.

The versatile Yorkshireman started his career on scholarship forms with Championship Featherstone Rovers while most of his team-mates at junior club Oulton Raiders joined the more illustrious Leeds Rhinos.

The forward then got a chance with Bradford Bulls – also in the second tier – only to quickly see the club forced into liquidation.

Nevertheless, Bentley still made his mark and, after winning Championship Young Player of the Year in 2017, attracted plenty of top-flight interest before plumping for Saints where he has steadily worked himself up to being an essential cog in Kristan Woolf’s machine.

“I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason,” the 24-year-old told The Yorkshire Post, ahead of the end-game against Wigan Warriors.

“Most of my mates did go to Leeds Rhinos. There were only a couple of us that didn’t.

“I went to Fev at Under-16s but I still backed myself. I still believed that I could do it.

“I knew if I worked hard I’d always set a target of playing Super League and to play in these big games like Grand Finals. All that hard work has paid off in a way.

“At Bradford, everything happened there with the liquidation but then I had that season where I played well and got Young Player of the Year.

“That’s how I signed for Saints.

“Because I was young, the financial issues at Bulls probably didn’t affect me the same as it would have done some of the older players who might have had a mortgage and commitments like that. I didn’t have anything like that. I was only 18 or 19 and was living at home with my mum and dad.

“In a way, though, it’s probably been a bit of a blessing in disguise for me as it helped me to play more and showcase myself which meant I did get this opportunity here.”

Leeds-born Bentley – he grew up in Morley – spent most of his first season at Saints on dual-registration with Sheffield Eagles.

However, he came of age last year, making 17 appearances and showing that versatility by playing centre and hooker as well as his predominant back-row position.

Bentley has gone further this time around, especially since the sport resumed after lockdown, keeping experienced former NRL second-row Dominique Peyroux out of the starting line-up as champions Saints marched to the Grand Final at Hull’s KCOM Stadium.

“I’m just buzzing to be playing,” he said, ahead of that prospect.

“Obviously I was a part of it last year being 18th man – I was 18th man for the Challenge Cup final, too – but it’s different when you know you are going to be playing.

“I can’t wait to get out there. I was gutted that I wasn’t playing 12 months ago but I reckon it’s driven me on more this time to be in that team.

“When you’re 18th man you’re still buzzing to be there and for all the lads. But it’s just not the same as actually being on the field and getting the job done and being in the thick of it yourself.”

So it is that the industrious and athletic forward will line up alongside legends such as England pack stars James Graham – playing the final game of his gilded career – and James Roby to defend their title against their biggest rivals.

Bentley explained: “It makes my life easier having all those great players around me and all that experience especially as a young lad who’s not done the things they’ve done.

“They help me every day in training and in these big games; they know what to do and what’s going to win the game. They give me loads of little tips.

“I’ve grown up with the Leeds/Bradford derbies and we all know what they are like but since the day I moved over here it was made a massive thing about how you have got to beat Wigan.

“That’s the game the fans care all about – beating them in the league – and now we have them in the Grand Final it just makes it even bigger.

“We want it even more,” he added.

That is especially so given Wigan – who finished top – beat them 18-6 barely three weeks ago.

Whatever happens you know Bentley will be in the thick of it all, whether tirelessly driving them forward or getting through a mountain of defensive graft.

Another reminder of how hard work pays off.

However long it takes or where you put it in.

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