St Helens secured a share of the Super League summit with Leeds Rhinos after edging out Wakefield Trinity 18-12 on their home turf on Saturday. The Saints began the match in commanding fashion, establishing a clear advantage in the first half despite a brief interruption when a try by Owen Dagnall in the fifth minute was overturned after a video review. The early dominance continued when Dagnall linked up with Jake Davies, whose determined run resulted in a try that put St Helens 12 minutes into the game. Six minutes later another breakthrough came when Jonny Lomax delivered a precise pass to Kyle Feldt, who crossed the line to extend the lead.
By halftime the scoreboard read 16-0, the margin swelling after a timely interception by Harry Robertson that set up Tristan Sailor for a further try. Wakefield, however, managed to claw back onto the board in the 55th minute when a knock‑on by the Saints gifted them a second‑chance opportunity, which Tyson Smoothy capitalised on.
Just before the hour‑mark, Jackson Hastings added a penalty goal, giving the Saints a comfortable buffer. That cushion proved vital when Caius Faatili finished a clean run after a well‑timed pass from Jake Trueman, pushing the final tally to 18-12. In the post‑match interview, St Helens head coach Paul Rowley spoke candidly to Sky Sports, acknowledging that the performance was far from flawless. He highlighted the confidence Wakefield brought into the encounter, noting that the opponents had been targeting this fixture for weeks and that their defensive pressure sometimes forced the Saints into a disjointed, chaotic style of play.
Rowley admitted he was dissatisfied with the second‑half display, pointing out a few questionable forward passes that stemmed from nerves. "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," he said. Wakefield’s coach Daryl Powell offered his perspective, acknowledging a few soft tries in the opening half but praising his side’s increased aggression after the break.
He believed the Saints would feel the pressure of a tightly contested match, stating, "There were a couple of soft tries in the first half but 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." Beyond the Saints‑Wakefield showdown, the weekend featured other notable Super League moments. Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis recorded a remarkable four‑try haul as the defending champions surged back into the playoff conversation with a dominant 48-12 victory over Bradford at the sun‑bathed Odsal stadium.
Willie Peters’ side overcame a brief dip in form early in the second half to assert control over an injury‑hit Bradford side, climbing to fifth place and overtaking rivals Wigan, who had previously held an eight‑point lead. Lewis’s try‑scoring spree was complemented by flawless goal‑kicking from Rhyse Martin, who successfully converted all eight of Hull KR’s tries. Bradford’s consolation points came from tries by Brandon Lewis and Greg Eden, but the Bulls were hampered by a depleted roster, with eight regular starters unavailable due to injuries. Their early struggles saw them on the brink of a humiliating defeat as Hull KR struck four tries within the first fifteen minutes.
The Super League continues to broadcast every match live this season, with Sky Sports providing exclusive coverage of two fixtures each round and airing the remaining five games across its channels. Fans can also stay updated via the league’s official table, the Bench podcast featuring Jenna and Jon, and personalized sports notifications tailored to their preferences.