St Helens delivered a spectacular second‑half display that left Wakefield Trinity reeling, securing a 46‑16 triumph and keeping the Saints' dwindling Super League playoff ambitions alive. The club, which has a flawless record of reaching the post‑season, entered the match on a disastrous run of three consecutive defeats and had suffered five losses in their last six outings, leaving them a full six points adrift of the top six positions. The game began badly for St Helens. The visitors fell behind 10‑0 to a confident Wakefield side that were sitting fourth on the ladder.
By halftime the scoreline read 16‑12 in favour of the Trinity, who seemed to have the upper hand after a strong start. However, the second half belonged entirely to the Saints. They unleashed a torrent of attacking rugby, crossing the try‑line six times without reply, and completely turned the tide of the contest.
Tristan Sailor was the star of the show. After scoring two tries early in the second half, he completed his hat‑trick with a powerful run that showcased his speed and strength. Lewis Murphy, who had already contributed a try in the first half, added another score to extend the Saints' lead. Jake Davies, who had been relatively quiet for most of the match, found the line twice in the closing minutes, cementing a dominant performance and moving St Helens within four points of sixth‑placed Leigh Leopards with only four games remaining in the season.
Wakefield, on the other hand, were plagued by injuries from the outset. Within the first thirty minutes they lost both Josh Rourke and try‑scorer Isaiah Vagana to knocks. The early disruption forced them to play a large portion of the match without two of their key play‑makers.
Their early lead came from an eighth‑minute effort by Tyson Smoothy, which Jack Sinfield successfully converted, and a second try from Vagana in the 12th minute, also converted by Sinfield, giving Wakefield a 10‑0 advantage. Vagana’s involvement was cut short when he was barged into while going down, leaving him clutching his left arm as he was helped off the field. Rourke also departed after a heavy collision with Murphy, further weakening Wakefield’s attacking options. The Saints capitalised on these setbacks, with Sailor and Murphy breaking through the Trinity defence to restore parity, each try being followed by a conversion from Jackson Hastings.
Sinfield then exploited a defensive lapse to add another conversion, leaving Wakefield a mere four points behind at the break. The second half saw Wakefield’s fortunes deteriorate rapidly.
Lachlan Walmsley appeared to have scored twice for Trinity, but both tries were disallowed after review. In the meantime, Murphy delivered a spectacular one‑handed dive into the corner for a try, only to hobble off with an injury to his left leg.
Billy Keeley seized a loose ball and crossed for St Helens after 64 minutes, sealing the momentum for the Saints. Sailor’s hat‑trick was completed with a lung‑busting run that left the Wakefield crowd visibly disheartened as they began to file out of the stadium. Trinity head coach Daryl Powell was visibly frustrated by his side’s collapse, describing it as "unforgivable" and lamenting a lack of effort in the final stages. He said, "It’s really disappointing.
The second half last week and the whole game today, I don’t think we’re in a great place. We didn’t perform well.
We took a smack on the nose last week and we haven’t recovered from that this week. They were desperate and they out‑played us. I don’t think our fight was good enough.
It’s hugely disappointing and I’ve said to the players ‘we’ve got to flip this pretty quick’. We play Wigan next week and it doesn’t get any harder than that." The broader Super League context added further intrigue.
Wigan, after a convincing 34‑6 victory over struggling Bradford, moved level on points with league leaders Leeds. Their six‑try haul featured Jake Wardle, Adam Keighran, and Bevan French before the break, with Wardle adding another in the second half alongside tries from Kian McDermott and Jake Kerr. Andy Ackers accounted for Bradford’s solitary score. Wigan’s 18th win of the season placed them four points clear of both Warrington and Wakefield, who sit third and fourth respectively.
Bradford, meanwhile, remain near the bottom of the table after a heavy loss to Huddersfield, who have surged with wins over York, Hull FC, and Catalans. Huddersfield’s revival coincides with a slump for Toulouse, who have now endured four straight defeats after disappointing outings against Catalans, Leeds, and Wigan.
The Giants (Wigan) have found form, winning four consecutive games after a sluggish start that saw only two victories in their first nineteen matches. Their recent success has been powered by two tries from Sam Halsall and contributions from Joe Greenwood and Conor Wrench. Huddersfield’s resurgence has been equally impressive, while Toulouse continues to struggle, highlighting the shifting dynamics within the league. Overall, St Helens’ emphatic victory over Wakefield not only revitalised their own playoff hopes but also underscored the volatility of the Super League this season.
With only four games left, every point is crucial, and the Saints will be looking to build on this momentum as they prepare for a daunting clash against Wigan next week. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League match live, with two fixtures each round shown exclusively, while the remaining games will be available on Sky Sports+.