Hull FC finally halted a dismal run of seven consecutive defeats when winger Harvey Barron recorded his first senior hat‑trick, propelling the Black and Whites to a 32‑18 comeback triumph at St Helens' BrewDog Stadium. The dramatic win not only revived Hull's hopes of steering clear of the Super League’s dreaded wooden spoon, but it also deepened questions about whether the Saints could still secure a place in the post‑season playoffs. Before the match, Hull FC had endured a ten‑game winless stretch at the BrewDog Stadium, a drought that stretched back nine years. Sitting just two points above the league’s bottom‑placed side, the Huddersfield Giants, the Tigers needed a statement performance to keep their survival hopes alive.
Their interim coach, Andy Last, managed to out‑maneuver his counterpart, Eamon O'Carroll, who had just overseen Saints suffer a historic loss at York – their first defeat there in more than eight decades. The game itself was a roller‑coaster.
Hull trailed 14‑10 as the first half drew to a close, but Barron struck just before the halftime whistle, netting the opening goal of his personal hat‑trick. He completed the three‑try haul at the 47‑minute mark, and within three minutes substitute Cade Cust added another try, turning a modest deficit into a commanding lead.
Those 16 points scored in an eleven‑minute burst stunned a Saints side still reeling from the recent departure of head coach Paul Rowley, who had been dismissed after less than a year in charge. Despite securing their first away win on Saints’ turf since August 2017, Hull remain in 13th place, now level on points with the Bradford Bulls. St Helens, a club that has never missed the playoffs, sit seventh and must still battle the teams above them in the coming weeks to preserve their postseason ambitions.
The match featured several pivotal moments. Early on, full‑back Logan Moy mishandled the ball, allowing winger Lewis Murphy to capitalize and score in the corner. A quick five‑minute response saw Zak Hardaker feed Barron for the first of his three tries.
Saints briefly regained the lead in the 18th minute when Tom Briscoe was penalised for a high tackle, giving Hull a chance to level the score. Hull’s forward Herman Ese'ese saw a potential second try disallowed for a double movement, and both he and Barron were repeatedly pushed back by a resilient Saints defence. Stand‑off Jake Arthur then delivered a crisp double cut‑out pass to Lewis Martin, who finished in the left corner, nudging the score to 10‑8 in Hull’s favour.
Later, a last‑minute cover tackle denied Barron again, but the Saints’ momentum was halted when Jack Welsby sprinted 30 metres to touch down. With just 37 seconds left in the first half, Saints captain James Hastings was forced off the field, and 34 seconds later Barron capitalised on an angled kick from Aidan Sezer to cross the line.
The on‑field decision of ‘no try’ was overturned after video referee Chris Kendall reviewed the play, confirming Barron's score. Hardaker successfully converted both Barron’s and Cust’s tries, effectively putting the game out of Saints’ reach. A consolation try by Harry Robertson for St Helens could not stem the tide, and Hardaker’s 70th‑minute penalty sealed the victory for Hull.
The final whistle saw an additional try from former Saint James Bell, cementing a 32‑18 win. The day also featured action in the Women’s Super League, where defending champions Wigan Warriors demolished St Helens 44‑6 in the inaugural match of the new Super Four format. Wigan’s dominance was highlighted by a brace from Ellise Derbyshire and Eva Hunter, with further contributions from Anna Davies, Molly Jones, Remi Wilton, Jenna Foubister and Mary Coleman, all scoring at the BrewDog Stadium. Looking ahead, Sky Sports has committed to broadcasting every Super League game live this season, with two matches each round shown exclusively live on the main channel and the remaining five fixtures streamed on Sky Sports+.
This comprehensive coverage ensures fans can follow every twist and turn of the league, from Hull’s hard‑earned resurgence to the ongoing battles for playoff positions across the competition.