Sculthorpe twice led Saints to victory in the Challenge Cup

Paul Sculthorpe is to leave St Helens at the end of the season after the Super League leaders confirmed they would not be offering him a new deal.

His injury record and the restraints of the salary cap are thought to be behind St Helens' decision to release their club captain and two-time Man of Steel.

Shaun McRae's Salford were thought to be favourites to sign the 30-year-old.

But McRae, who signed Sculthorpe for St Helens from Warrington in 1997, has distanced the Reds from the rumours.

"Paul is a fantastic player and we have met his agent but it is very unlikely we will be signing him," said McRae.

Another possible location for Sculthorpe, who is currently in his testimonial year, could be Wakefield, where his brother Danny plays.

Sculthorpe was appointed Saints captain in 2004, winning the Challenge Cup in 2004 and 2006 and the Super League Grand Final in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

606: DEBATE Scully was an absolute class act - the only class Great Britain player we had in the early 2000s SteRhino1988

"We have been talking to Paul since June and have allowed him to speak to other clubs," confirmed a Saints spokesman.

Since joining from Warrington for a then world-record fee of �370,000, he has made more than 200 appearances for Saints, scoring 1116 points in the process.

He succeeded Andy Farrell as Great Britain captain back in 2005, but was forced to stand down from the role after playing just 18 minutes of Test rugby as skipper, again because of injuries.

Sculthorpe, the only player to ever win back-to-back Man of Steel awards, is back in contention for Saints' game against Harlequins after overcoming a hamstring injury.