Matty Lees

{{short description|England international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

| fullname = Matthew Lees

| image = Matty Lees.jpg

| image_size = 240

| position = {{rlp|PR}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|2|4}}

| birth_place = Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England

| height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}

| weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}

| club1 = St Helens

| year1start = 2017

| year1end = present

| appearances1 = 173

| tries1 = 6

| goals1 = 0

| fieldgoals1 = 0

| points1 = 24

| club2 = {{nowrap|→ Sheffield Eagles}}

| year2start = 2018({{Abbrlink|DR|Kingstone Press Championship#Dual registration}})

| year2end =

| appearances2 = 6

| tries2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| fieldgoals2 = 0

| points2 = 0

| teamA = England Knights

| yearAstart = 2018

| yearAend = 21

| appearancesA = 2

| triesA = 0

| goalsA = 0

| fieldgoalsA = 0

| pointsA = 0

| teamB = England

| yearBstart = 2022

| yearBend =

| appearancesB = 3

| triesB = 1

| goalsB = 0

| fieldgoalsB = 0

| pointsB = 4

| source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/matthew-lees/summary.html RLP]{{Rugby league records |id=3717 |title=Matty Lees |access-date=24 September 2023}}

| updated = 16 April 2025

}}

Matty Lees (born 4 February 1998) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|pr}} for St Helens in the Super League{{cite web|url=http://www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/sport/saints-bring-in-fresh-faces-1-6786266|title=Saints bring in fresh faces|publisher=St Helens Reporter|date=14 August 2014|accessdate=7 September 2017}} 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.{{cite web |title=Prop Matty Lees rewarded with a new Saints deal |url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/17345312.prop-matty-lees-rewarded-new-saints-deal/ |website=St Helens Star |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=9 January 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.sheffieldeagles.com/article/50794/saints-quartet-become-first-dual-registered-players-in-|title=Matty Lees joins Eagles on dual-registration|date=31 January 2018|accessdate=31 January 2018}} He made 19 appearances for Saints during the 2018 season, and was nominated for the Super League Young Player of the Year award.{{cite web |title=St Helens’ departing Ben Barba is Super League’s 2018 Man of Steel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/oct/08/st-helens-ben-barba-super-league-man-of-steel-2018-rugby-league |website=The Guardian |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=8 October 2018}}

Lees signed a new three-year contract prior to the start of the 2019 season. Although his season was cut short after suffering a bowel injury,{{cite web |title=Matty Lees: St Helens forward out for season after suffering perforated bowel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/49592666 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=5 September 2019}} he received another nomination for the Young Player of the Year,{{cite web |title=Super League: Injured Matty Lees among five shortlisted for Young Player of the Year |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/49634416 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=9 September 2019}} and was this time voted as the winner of the award.{{cite web |title=St Helens Rugby News: Holbrook and Lees scoop awards |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-rugby-news-holbrook-17046271 |website=Liverpool Echo |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=7 October 2019}}

He played for St Helens in their 8-4 2020 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan at the Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55072997/|title=Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens|work=BBC Sport}}

On 17 July 2021, Lees played for St. Helens in their 26-12 2021 Challenge Cup Final victory over Castleford.{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-celebrate-challenge-cup-21081897/|title=How St Helens players have celebrated their first Challenge Cup win in 13 years|website=www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk}}

On 9 October 2021, Lees played for St. Helens in their 12-10 2021 Super League Grand Final victory over Catalans Dragons.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58858850/|title=Super League Grand Final: Catalans Dragons 10-12 St Helens: Saints win three in a row|work=BBC Sport}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/24/st-helens-leeds-super-league-grand-final-match-report-rugby-league/|title=St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final|newspaper=The Observer|date=24 September 2022 |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron }}

On 18 February 2023, Lees played in St Helens 13-12 upset victory over Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge.{{cite news |title=St Helens stun Penrith to win World Club Challenge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64666651 |work=BBC Sport}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/23856044.paul-wellens-q-saints-review-year-look-2024/|title=Paul Wellens Q&A: Saints review of year and a look to 2024|website=www.sthelensstar.co.uk}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/28/warrington-st-helens-super-league-eliminator-playoff-rugby-league-match-report/|title=

‘Soul destroying’: Warrington eliminate St Helens in golden drop goal thriller|website=www.theguardian.com}}

International career

In July 2018 he was selected in the England Knights Performance squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ten-new-additions-in-england-knights-squad/|title=Ten new additions in England Knights squad|publisher=loverugbyleague|date=24 July 2018|accessdate=31 October 2019}} 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{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/live-scores/papua-new-guinea-v-england-knights-international-2018/718006#lineup|title=Papua New Guinea vs England Knights|publisher=WWOS|date=27 October 2018|accessdate=30 October 2019}} and the Oil Search National Football Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/live-scores/papua-new-guinea-v-england-knights-international-2018/718007#lineup|title=Papua New Guinea v England Knights|publisher=WWOS|date=3 November 2018|accessdate=30 October 2019}}

References

External links

[https://www.saintsrlfc.com/teams/first-team/matty-lees/ St Helens profile]
[https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/361/matthew%3Cbr-%3Elees SL profile]
[http://www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=16803 Saints Heritage Society profile]
[https://www.nrl.com/players/rugby-league-world-cup/england/matty-lees/ England profile]

Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century English sportsmen

Category:England Knights national rugby league team players

Category:England national rugby league team players

Category:English rugby league players

Category:Rugby league players from Rochdale

Category:Rugby league props

Category:Rugby league second-rows

Category:Sheffield Eagles players

Category:St Helens R.F.C. players