Lyon’s focus is on doing the double over Leeds after Saints overtures

The Australian Test star, sure to be a key performer in this evening’s World Club Challenge against Leeds Rhinos, was a revelation during his previous two-year stay at the Merseyside club.

Prolific centre Lyon scored 39 tries and 172 goals in just 55 Super League games, claiming Man of Steel in 2005 as the competition’s most influential player before helping Saints win both the Grand Final and Challenge Cup the following year.

He returned to the NRL in 2007 and has since established himself as a fulcrum of a Manly side which won the Grand Final the next season and once more last October.

However, as he prepares to face Leeds at Headingley Carnegie, it emerges Saints had boldly tried to entice him back to England for the current campaign.

“I spoke to Eamonn (McManus, the St Helens chairman),” he said.

“He tossed it up. It didn’t work out with timing but it would have been good.

“Maybe (I will come back), you never say never. I’ve got this year and next year at Manly and I’ll be 32 then.

“That’s normally the age the Aussies come over. There’s definitely a chance.

“I had a great time there and still speak to Paul Wellens a bit, Jon (Wilkin) and Ade (Gardner) and the boys.”

Before Saints’ intervention, Lyon had grown disillusioned with the professional game, famously quitting the NRL at the age of 22 to return to his country roots.

“I was a bit fed up with footy and I’d pretty much hung my boots up when Ian Millward rang and asked if I wanted to come over,” he recalled.

“I thought about it for a little while and it was a great decision in the end.

“It really brought back my enthusiasm for rugby league. I guess I owe them quite a lot.”

Admiring Saints fans would disagree given the immense impact he had on the club.

However, his immediate aim is delivering a second World Club Challenge for Manly, adding to the one he helped win when the Sydney giants overcame Leeds at Elland Road in 2008.

“We’ve had a good run the last few years,” admitted Lyon.

“We’ve a strong side who have had some good results for a good few years.

“The atmosphere will be noisy and hostile at Headingley but in a way we’re used to that at home; everyone loves to hate Manly.

“But we grow an extra leg with that. We really enjoy it and the players love it so we’ll be ready for all of that on Friday.”