The NRL outfit have finalised its Football Department for the 2027 NRL season, led by Head Coach Todd Payten, and Wellens is not listed among the names.

Cowboys have rolled out a new-look Performance Unit in 2027 with assistant coaches Blake Green, Steve Sheppard and Jordan McLean remaining in their roles, along with contact coach Brett O’Farrell and Head of Leadership and Culture Don Singe.

Mitchell Dunn has been promoted to NRL Assistant Coach after two seasons as Elite Pathways Head Coach – presumably into the role vacated by Wellens.

Wellens, who acted as one of Brian McDermott’s assistant coaches in England’s World Cup campaign, has now been linked with another role in the NRL.

There is considerable speculation that Wellens could once again team up with former Saints boss Kristian Woolf at Dolphins.

Woolf is a long-term admirer of Wellens’ qualities as a coach and there is a vacancy on his staff following the departure of Nathan Fien to St George-Illawarra.

Wellens worked under Woolf from 2020-22 before being anointed by him for the Saints head coach’s role in 2023.

He also assisted Woolf with the Tongan national team during the three-match test series against England.

Club legend Wellens, who as a player won every domestic honour at team and individual level in the red vee, departed Saints at the end of 2025 and headed over to Australia to join the Cowboys.