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 started the encounter in commanding fashion, establishing a clear advantage before halftime. Early in the first half, a potential try by Owen Dagnall was disallowed after a video review, but the team soon recovered.
Twelve minutes into the game, Dagnall set up Jake Davies, who powered his way over the line to give St Helens the first points of the match. Just six minutes later, the Saints struck again when Jonny Lomax delivered a precise pass to Kyle Feldt, who crossed for the second try.
The momentum continued when a mis‑directed pass from Wakefield’s Harry Robertson was intercepted by Tristan Sailor, who sprinted to the try‑line, pushing the score to 16-0 at the break. The second half saw Wakefield Trinity claw back into contention. In the 55th minute, a knock‑on by the Saints offered Wakefield a second‑chance opportunity, which Tyson Smoothy capitalised on, finally putting the visitors on the board.
A few minutes later, Jackson Hastings added a penalty goal just before the hour mark, extending St Helens’ lead and providing a crucial buffer. The final points came when Caius Faatili, after receiving a well‑timed pass from Jake Trueman, crossed untouched to seal the win.
Saints head coach Paul Rowley spoke to Sky Sports after the match, acknowledging the imperfections in his side’s performance. He noted, "It wasn’t polished today by any means but we must remember we’re playing a Wakefield team that’s high on confidence.
They targeted this game for a while and they’re a side that tests you defensively, so sometimes it looks a bit disconnected or chaotic." Rowley admitted he was not satisfied with the second‑half display, commenting, "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." Wakefield’s coach Daryl Powell offered his perspective, saying, "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." His remarks highlighted the competitive nature of the contest despite the final margin. Beyond the Saints’ triumph, the weekend also featured a standout performance from Hull KR.
Mikey Lewis recorded four tries as the defending champions surged back into the play‑off picture with a dominant 48-12 victory over Bradford at the sun‑lit Odsal Stadium. Willie Peters’ side overcame a brief lapse late in the first half to dominate their injury‑hit opponents, climbing to fifth place and overtaking a struggling Wigan side that had previously led them by eight points early in the season. 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, on the other hand, managed only two scores, courtesy of Brandon Lewis and Greg Eden, as they battled with eight starting players missing through injury. The Bulls appeared vulnerable throughout, especially after a series of defeats, and their fears were confirmed when Hull KR struck four times within the opening 15 minutes. The Super League continues to broadcast every match live this season, with Sky Sports committing to two exclusive live fixtures each round and the remaining five games shown on Sky Sports+. Fans can stay updated with the latest league table, tune into the Bench podcast hosted by Jenna and Jon, and customize their sports notification preferences to never miss a moment of the action.
Overall, St Helens’ win not only keeps them level at the top of the table but also demonstrates their resilience and ability to respond to setbacks. While the Saints acknowledge areas for improvement—particularly in the second half—their capacity to maintain composure under pressure bodes well for the remainder of the campaign.
As the season progresses, both St Helens and Leeds will be keen to pull ahead, while Wakefield looks to build on the aggressive approach highlighted by Powell, aiming to climb the rankings in the upcoming rounds.