A hooker, similar to his dad, Cunningham was at all times conscious comparisons along with his father had been inevitable.
And that was at all times going to be robust.
Wales and Nice Britain worldwide Keiron was a one-club man, making 496 appearances in a trophy-laden profession that included 5 Tremendous League titles and 7 Problem Cup wins.
He then went on to turn out to be Saints head coach, taking cost of 76 video games in a two-and-a-half-year spell that ended in April 2017.
“He was the most effective gamers within the membership’s historical past. There is a statue of him exterior the stadium and sadly I simply determined to select the very same place as him,” Cunningham mentioned.
By his personal admission, Cunningham’s profession “dropped off lots sooner” than his dad’s, and though he progressed by means of the academy at Saints and was promoted into the first-team squad in 2017 as a 17-year-old, the breakthrough by no means got here.
After a number of mortgage spells that included stints with Leigh, Oldham and Rochdale, Cunningham give up the sport to “construct a profession somewhat than attempting to push my means into sport”.
Then got here the transfer away from St Helens – and rugby league – initially to Suffolk, the place he ended up taking part in rugby union for Southwold.
That transfer introduced not solely a contemporary problem however some welcome anonymity.
“One of many very nice issues that occurred to me on that [first] day was few lads got here as much as me and requested if I’ve ever performed rugby earlier than,” he mentioned.
“The 12 months earlier than I used to be clearly in knowledgeable set-up so it was very nice to not be Jonah Cunningham. I used to be simply Jonah.
“Individuals simply knew me as me, somewhat than my dad or that determine above me.”
