St Helens secured a share of the Super League summit with Leeds Rhinos by clinging to an 18-12 victory over Wakefield Trinity on Saturday at their home ground. The Saints started the match in commanding fashion, establishing a clear advantage in the first half despite a brief controversy when a try by Owen Dagnall in the fifth minute was overturned after a video review. The early dominance continued when Dagnall later assisted Jake Davies, who powered his way over the line, extending the lead. Six minutes after that, Jonny Lomax delivered a precise pass to Kyle Feldt, who crossed for a second try, and a timely interception by Harry Robertson set up Tristan Sailor to add another score before the break, leaving the scoreboard at 16-0 in favour of St Helens at halftime.
The second half saw Wakefield Trinity mount a fightback. Their first points arrived in the 55th minute after a Saints knock‑on gave them a second‑chance opportunity, which Tyson Smoothy capitalised on.
The momentum shift was briefly halted when Jackson Hastings slotted a penalty just before the hour mark, restoring a comfortable cushion for the home side. However, Wakefield continued to press, and a well‑timed pass from Jake Trueman found Caius Faatili, who crossed untouched for a try, narrowing the deficit. After the final whistle, Saints head coach Paul Rowley addressed Sky Sports, acknowledging that the performance was far from flawless.
He highlighted the confidence Wakefield had built up and noted that their defensive intensity sometimes left the Saints looking disjointed and chaotic. Rowley admitted to personal dissatisfaction with the second‑half display, pointing out a few questionable forward passes that, in his view, stemmed from nerves.
In the broader context of the league, the match contributed to a reshuffling of the table, with St Helens now level on points with Leeds at the top. The victory also kept the Saints within striking distance of the coveted top spot as the season progresses.
Elsewhere in the competition, Hull KR’s defending champion Mikey Lewis delivered a standout performance, scoring four tries as his side surged back into the playoff picture with a dominant 48-12 win over Bradford at the sun‑lit Odsal stadium. Willie Peters’ men overcame a brief lapse late in the first half, then took control of the game, propelling them to fifth place and overtaking rivals Wigan, who had previously led by eight points early in the campaign. Lewis’s try‑scoring spree was complemented by flawless goal‑kicking from Rhyse Martin, who successfully converted all eight of Hull KR’s tries, while Bradford managed to add points through tries from Brandon Lewis and Greg Eden.
Bradford’s side, heavily depleted by injuries with eight starters unavailable, struggled to find any foothold and appeared destined for a heavy defeat. Their early hopes were quickly extinguished as Hull KR struck four tries within the opening 15 minutes, establishing a lead that proved insurmountable. The Bulls, despite their valiant effort, were left to contemplate a difficult run of form and the looming threat of further setbacks.
Wakefield’s coach Daryl Powell offered his perspective on the match, noting that while there were a few soft tries conceded in the first half, his team displayed greater aggression after the break. He believed that the Saints would feel the pressure of having been involved in a tightly contested encounter and praised his players for staying close to the opposition throughout the game.
Looking ahead, Sky Sports has confirmed that it will broadcast every Super League fixture live this season, with two matches per round receiving exclusive live coverage and the remaining five matches shown on Sky Sports+. Fans can also stay updated through the Bench podcast hosted by Jenna and Jon, and customise their sports notifications to receive the latest alerts.
Overall, the weekend’s action underscored the competitive intensity of the Super League, with St Helens’ narrow win keeping them firmly in the title race, Hull KR’s resurgence adding fresh intrigue to the playoff chase, and Wakefield demonstrating resilience despite the loss. As the season unfolds, each team’s performance will continue to shape the evolving narrative of the league’s top tier.