The Maryport-raised speedster, who was born in Thailand, joined Paul Wellen’s team before of the 2023 campaign on a season-long loan from Cumbrian Championship team Barrow Raiders, with the option to make the transfer permanent. This decision was made to guarantee Ritson stays in the renowned Red V.
In his first season with the Saints, Ritson has made 16 appearances and scored three goals. Ritson has had a year to adjust to life as a full-time player in the Super League, but he has earned the respect of his teammates for his excellent work ethic both on and off the field.
In the Challenge Cup quarterfinal win away at Hull FC during the 2023 season, the winger freakishly tied the Super League top speed record at a freakish 36.41km/h, showcasing Ritson’s lightning speed.
With 70 four-pointers in 73 appearances for Barrow across his four seasons with the Raiders, the proud Cumbrian representative has been on a try-scoring tear lately. With 33 goals in 31 games, he was also the Betfred Championship’s leading scorer in 2022.
Tee Ritson discussed his two-year contract with the Club in an interview with saintsrlfc.com.
“I’ve worked hard all year for this, and I’m just excited. The Club has shown its faith and trust in me, and I’m thrilled to stay for the next two years. When I first came, it was only for this year, and there was always that thought in the back of my mind about what would happen.
“I know I still have a lot more in me, and I can’t wait to get started right away now.”
Ritson’s attention is now on making a name for himself at St. Helens so he can play regularly now that his next two years are secured.
“I’m hoping to solidify my position as a starting player in the team. This year hasn’t gone quite as we had hoped at the beginning of the year, but hopefully in the coming years we can win some hardware and I can be one of the first names on the team sheet.”
Tee also expressed gratitude to the Saints fans for their support since he joined the team and expressed excitement about the upcoming two seasons’ worth of fan support.
“Since I moved here, the fans have been wonderful to me; I’ve seen a lot of them around town, and they constantly stop to say hello or good things to me. Big thanks to them for having my back and I’m looking forward to the upcoming two years. Along with everyone else affiliated with the club, the staff, the players, and the fans have made my transfer incredibly smooth.
The Saints’ head coach, Paul Wellens, expressed his excitement at keeping Tee as a member of the team, saying: “I think Tee has had a tremendous year with us. People have to appreciate it’s his first year in a full-time situation, and he’s evolved as a person, grown as a player on the back of that.
“He still has a lot of room for growth, and I’m confident that in 2024, those signals will become apparent. He’s eager to come back to work and make those improvements, I know that. We will keep putting in a lot of effort as a team because he is a lovely kid and has gotten along so well with the others.
Tee’s pace is one of his draws; not many people can move as quickly as he does, so we’ll work diligently to keep up with him.
