Battered, bruised and depleted – but the reigning Super League champions are still very much in the fight for history and an unprecedented fifth consecutive title. It has been a bruising week for St Helens, the kind of which they haven’t really endured during their four-year dominance of British rugby league.
Their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Leigh last Saturday was painful enough, but the loss of a number of key players to season-ending injuries was a further blow. Their coach, Paul Wellens, spent this week hitting out at those tackles from Leigh’s John Asiata, calling on the governing body to do more. The debate about the legality of the chop tackle Asiata employed – he is not the only one in the competition to use it – will rumble on , but one other debate is surely closer to being settled.
For all the injuries, the absence of eight or nine frontline players here, one superstar remains fit and how fitting he was the one who decided this contest. Jack Welsby has been considered one of the best players in Super League since his emergence several years ago but the England full-back has all the hallmarks of the competition’s standout talent, underlined by his match-winning try here on a night when the lead changed hands four times. “He can do things on the rugby field others can’t,” Wellens said. “His ability is there for all to see but the scary thing is that there’s so much improvement in him.”
Welsby delivered when his side needed him most. With nine minutes remaining, the Saints trailed 18-16 and looked to be heading for a damaging defeat in terms of their hopes of a top-two finish, which brings with it a home semi-final in the playoffs. But when Jonny Lomax freed Welsby, he delivered the coup de grace in scintillating fashion with a stunning break for the line.
Leeds had played their part to that point. The two previous meetings between Super League’s two most successful sides this season were decided by a solitary point and when they were level at 12-12 at the break here, a repeat felt likely. Will Hopoate put the Saints ahead early on before tries from the impressive Sam Walters and Rhyse Martin made it 12-6 to Leeds.
However, a fine St Helens move with seconds to go in the first half freed Tee Ritson to score, and Tommy Makinson converted to level matters. But the second half, in truth, belonged to the brilliance of Welsby. He put the Saints back ahead with his first try shortly after the restart, forcing over under pressure.
However, Leeds responded once again though, this time through Nene Macdonald, who finished well in the corner before Martin converted to make it 18-16. However, as the game entered the decisive final moments, Welsby struck again after being freed by Lomax and this time, there would be no comeback from the Rhinos despite some late nerves for the hosts.
“It didn’t have the attrition that a game between these two teams should have,” Leeds’ coach, Rohan Smith, said. “It wasn’t through lack of effort, it was just a lack of execution.”
He may be right about his side’s execution but in truth, the real difference between the sides was a player who continues to cement his status as one of Super League’s true stars.
St Helens Welsby; Makinson, Hurrell, Hopoate, Ritson; Lomax, Dodd; Lees, Roby, Delaney, Bell, Royle, Knowles Interchange Norman, Davies, Baxter, Mbye Tries Hopoate, Ritson, Welsby 2 Goals Makinson 2, Dodd
Leeds Myler; Fusitu’a, Martin, Macdonald, Handley; Austin, Sezer; Oledzki, O’Connor, Walters, Bentley, McDonnell, Smith Interchange Johnson, Lisone, Holroyd, Sangare Tries Martin, Walters, Macdonald Goals Martin 3. Referee L Moore.
