St Helens secured a share of the Super League summit with Leeds Rhinos after clinging to an 18-12 triumph over Wakefield Trinity on Saturday at their home ground. The Saints began the match in commanding fashion, establishing a comfortable lead before half‑time and ultimately maintaining enough of a cushion to stay ahead despite a late surge from the visitors. In the opening half the Saints were the dominant side.
Although a try by Owen Dagnall in the fifth minute was overturned after a video review, the team quickly recovered. Twelve minutes into the game Dagnall played a pivotal role in setting up Jake Davies, who powered his way over the line to give St Helens an early advantage. Six minutes later another breakthrough came when Jonny Lomax delivered a precise pass to Kyle Feldt, who finished strongly to extend the lead. By the interval the scoreboard read 16-0, the margin built further when an interception by Harry Robertson was converted into a try by Tristan Sailor.
Wakefield managed to get on the board in the 55th minute after a Saints knock‑on gifted them a second‑chance opportunity, which Tyson Smoothy capitalised on to cross for a try. The Saints responded almost immediately; Jackson Hastings slotted a penalty just before the hour‑mark, adding two points to the tally and restoring a comfortable margin.
The final blow came when Caius Faatili, after receiving a well‑timed pass from Jake Trueman, dived over untouched for the last try of the match, sealing an 18-12 victory. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, St Helens head coach Paul Rowley admitted that the performance was far from flawless. "It wasn't polished today by any means but we must remember we're playing a Wakefield team high on confidence.
They targeted this game for a while and they're a team that challenge you defensively so sometimes it looks disconnected or chaotic. I didn't enjoy any of that second half, to be honest. I was calling for a few things.
I thought there were a few dodgy forward passes in there but that's what you do when you get a bit nervous," Rowley explained. His comments highlighted the defensive pressure Wakefield applied and the occasional lapses in concentration that can occur when a side feels the weight of expectation. Wakefield’s coach Daryl Powell offered his perspective, noting that the first half featured a couple of soft tries from his side, but praised his players for the increased aggression in the second half.
"In the second half I thought we were really aggressive and I think they'll feel like they've been in a pretty tough game and we were pretty close," Powell said, acknowledging the narrow margin and the intensity of the contest. Beyond the Saints‑Wakefield clash, the weekend also featured a standout performance from Hull KR.
Mikey Lewis recorded four tries as the defending champions surged back into the Super League playoff positions with a dominant 48-12 victory over Bradford at the sun‑lit Odsal stadium. Willie Peters' side overcame a brief dip in form early in the second half to assert their superiority over a heavily depleted Bradford side, climbing to fifth place and overtaking rivals Wigan, who had been ahead by eight points earlier in the campaign. Lewis’s try‑scoring spree was complemented by an immaculate kicking display from Rhyse Martin, who successfully converted all eight of Hull KR’s tries.
Bradford, despite the heavy defeat, managed to find the scoreboard through tries from Brandon Lewis and Greg Eden, but the gap was too large to bridge. The Bulls, missing eight starters through injury, appeared vulnerable throughout the match, especially as Hull KR struck four times in the opening 15 minutes, setting the tone for a one‑sided encounter. The broader Super League landscape continues to evolve, with Sky Sports confirming that every match this season will be broadcast live.
Two fixtures each round will be shown exclusively, while the remaining five games will be available on Sky Sports+, ensuring fans have comprehensive access to the action. The league table reflects the tight competition at the top, with St Helens and Leeds now level on points, and the race for playoff spots heating up as teams like Hull KR and Wakefield strive to consolidate their positions. For supporters looking to stay updated, the league offers a range of sports notifications, allowing fans to tailor alerts for their favourite clubs and matches.
Additionally, the Bench podcast, hosted by Jenna and Jon, provides in‑depth analysis, interviews, and behind‑the‑scenes insights into the Super League’s ongoing drama. As the season progresses, the combination of high‑stakes matches, strategic coaching adjustments, and individual brilliance promises to keep the competition fiercely contested and highly entertaining for audiences worldwide.