If you needed any further proof that Super League’s two most successful sides are travelling in different directions, this was about as conclusive as you can get.
There are two very different fates awaiting Leeds Rhinos and St Helens in three weeks or so. The Rhinos will now almost certainly be resting up for a Super League playoff semi-final, having earned a bye for the opening week of the playoffs by virtue of a top-two finish.
But Saints, barring a miraculous run of results, will be preparing for 2027, with their 60-year record of making the playoffs ending. Win here and they would not only dent Leeds’s chances of the League Leaders’ Shield, but put themselves back in the mix for the top six. Instead, what we saw was an 80 minutes very much played out to form. The Rhinos were impressive, Jake Connor was sensational yet again and Saints ultimately disappointed.
With two rounds to go, Leeds can now look ahead to what is in effect a decider for top spot next Saturday against Wigan. It is a playoff game before the playoffs start. “Next week decides the league leaders and what a great position to be in,” Brad Arthur, the Leeds coach, said.
His side were very good again. With Connor the influential figure throughout, he helped guide the Rhinos into an 18-0 half-time lead. Saints began brightly but could not turn any pressure into points and when Leeds forged attacking opportunities, they offered their great rivals a lesson in how to be ruthless.
Tries for Chris Hankinson, Harry Newman and Cameron Smith and one for Ryan Hall shortly after the restart made it 22-0 in Leeds’ favour. That ended the game as a contest with half an hour remaining.
In all probability, Saints have to win their last two games and win them well to stand any chance of making the playoffs. Their opponents are fifth-placed Leigh and sixth-placed Hull KR. While both those sides lost this weekend, there is enough evidence to suggest Saints do not have the quality to drag it back.
“I’m really disappointed,” their interim coach, Eamon O’Carroll, said. “Not in the players, but for them. The start was what we wanted, it was attritional and we went after it but we lost some big moments after that, and Leeds showed their class.”
Australia’s coach, Kevin Walters, will take charge of the Saints in 2027 and were he watching, he would have seen the size of the task that awaits. Jack Welsby’s magnificent solo try at least ensured Saints got on the scoresheet, but they ended with their worst postwar defeat to Leeds at home after a sumptuous Connor kick for Ash Handley to touch down and put them back in control.
Connor’s boot again caused mayhem in the St Helens defence to allow his half-back partner, Brodie Croft, to score his 28th try of the season. That made it 34-6 and by then the home support had already begun to filter away.
St Helens Sailor; Douglas, Macdonald, Welsby, Cross; Robertson, Lomax; Suluka-Fifita, Shorrocks, Klemmer, Davies, Wright, Host. Interchange Walmsley, Humphreys, Keeley, Evans. Try Welsby. Goal Sailor.
Leeds Miller; Hall, Bird, Handley, Newman; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, O’Connor, Jenkins, Watkins, Hankinson, Cassell. Interchange Smith, Holroyd, Levi, Holroyd. Tries Hankinson, Smith, Newman, Hall, Handley, Croft. Goals Connor 5.
Referee Marcus Griffiths.
