Harvey Barron, the Hull FC winger, celebrated a personal milestone by notching his first senior hat‑trick, a feat that helped his side halt a dismal run of seven consecutive defeats. The Black and Whites turned the tables on St Helens with a 32‑18 comeback win at the BrewDog Stadium, a result that not only lifted the morale of the Hull squad but also revived their hopes of steering clear of the dreaded Super League wooden spoon. Hull FC entered the match with a grim record at the BrewDog Stadium – ten games without a win and a nine‑year drought on St Helens’ turf.
The defeat had left them perched just two points above the bottom‑placed Huddersfield Giants, making every point crucial in the battle for survival. In contrast, the Saints were fighting to maintain their unblemished streak of playoff qualifications, although they had slipped to seventh place and now faced a gauntlet of fixtures against teams positioned above them.
The contest unfolded as a classic clash of interim coaches. Andy Last, steering Hull FC, out‑maneuvered Eamon O'Carroll, who had recently overseen the Saints’ first loss at York in more than eight decades.
The first half was tightly contested, with St Helens holding a slender 14‑10 lead as the teams headed into the break. However, the tide began to turn almost immediately after the interval.
Barron struck just before the halftime whistle, converting a pass from Zak Hardaker to open his scoring account. Less than three minutes later, substitute forward Cade Cust crashed over the line, adding a second try for Hull within an eleven‑minute span. Those rapid 16 points stunned the home side, who were still reeling from the recent departure of Paul Rowley after less than a year in charge. The momentum shift was palpable; Hull FC, despite securing their first away win on St Helens’ ground since August 2017, only managed to climb to 13th place, now level on points with the Bradford Bulls.
Meanwhile, the Saints, who have never missed the playoffs in their history, found themselves stuck in seventh place, with every remaining opponent a potential threat to their postseason ambitions. The early stages of the game saw St Helens dominate possession and create three separate leads, each of which they eventually relinquished. The first mistake came a mere two minutes in when full‑back Logan Moy knocked the ball on, allowing Hull’s winger Lewis Murphy to capitalize and score in the corner.
Shortly thereafter, a well‑timed pass from Hardaker found Barron, who crossed for the opening try of his hat‑trick. St Helens responded in the 18th minute when Tom Briscoe was penalised for a high tackle, granting Hull a penalty goal that nudged the scoreline in their favour. Hull’s prop Herman Ese'ese saw a potential second try ruled out for a double movement, and both he and Barron were repeatedly repelled by a resilient Saints defence.
Nevertheless, stand‑off Jake Arthur delivered a crisp double cut‑out pass to Lewis Martin, who finished in the left corner to push Hull ahead 10‑8. Barron’s third try came in dramatic fashion. With just 37 seconds left on the clock, Saints captain James Hastings was forced off the field. Thirty‑four seconds later, Barron seized an angled kick from Aidan Sezer, dashing over the line.
The on‑field decision initially ruled the effort a ‘no try’, but video referee Chris Kendall intervened, overturning the call and awarding the try. Both of Barr’s scores, along with Cust’s, were successfully converted by Hardaker, effectively sealing the contest for Hull.
St Helens managed a consolation try through Harry Robertson, but Hardaker’s 70th‑minute penalty cemented Hull’s victory. The final whistle saw Hull FC finish the match with an additional try from former Saint James Bell, capping a remarkable turnaround. Beyond the men’s game, the Women’s Super League also delivered excitement at the BrewDog Stadium. Defending champions Wigan Warriors dominated St Helens 44‑6 in the inaugural match of the new Super Four format.
Wigan’s Ellise Derbyshire and Eva Hunter each recorded a brace, while contributions from Anna Davies, Molly Jones, Remi Wilton, Jenna Foubister, and Mary Coleman rounded out a comprehensive performance. Looking ahead, Sky Sports has committed to broadcasting every Super League fixture live this season, with two matches each round airing exclusively on the main channel and the remaining five available via Sky Sports+. This extensive coverage ensures fans can follow the drama of the league, from Hull’s resurgence to the ongoing battles for playoff spots and survival. The season promises further twists, as teams like Hull FC strive to climb the table while traditional powerhouses such as St Helens fight to preserve their storied legacy.