Leeds reclaimed the leading spot in the Betfred Super League after delivering a commanding 34‑6 triumph over St Helens on Friday night. The Rhinos crossed the try‑line six times at the Brewdog Stadium, a performance that not only halted the Saints' recent momentum but also pushed the Merseyside side out of the play‑off picture with only two rounds left in the campaign. The match opened with Chris Hankinson touching down after a clever, delayed pass from Jake Connor, giving Brad Arthur's side an early advantage.
Leeds then seized control of the contest as Cameron Smith and Harry Newman each added a try in quick succession before the half‑time whistle, establishing a comfortable lead that the home side could not overturn. In the second half, the Rhinos continued to pile on the pressure.
Veteran winger Ryan Hall flicked a brilliant pass from Jack Bird and sprinted over for his own try, while Ash Handley pounced on a delicate grubber kick from Connor to add another score. Brodie Croft completed the tally after Connor deliberately kicked the ball against the post, allowing Croft to collect and ground it.
Connor himself was flawless with the boot, converting five of the six tries, though his late penalty attempt struck the post. Leeds' dominance was a stark contrast to the drama that unfolded earlier in the week when Wigan thrashed champions Hull KR, propelling the Rhinos ahead of their rivals on the ladder.
The Rhinos' early intensity paid dividends after just seven minutes, when Connor’s vision set up Hankinson for the opening try, a move that set the tone for the rest of the encounter. St Helens, under interim coach Eamon O'Carroll, had been enjoying a brief resurgence, securing back‑to‑back victories that had raised hopes of breaking into the top six. However, Leeds' defensive pressure stifled those ambitions.
Deon Cross saw two potential tries denied – first by a disciplined Leeds line, then by a referee’s decision after a looping pass from Tristan Sailor was ruled forward. A moment of disciplinary drama saw Leeds reduced to twelve men when Daniel Suluka‑Fifita received a sin‑bin for a late tackle on Presley Cassell. Cassell, who required a head injury assessment, was cleared to continue after passing the checks. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Leeds maintained their attacking rhythm.
Jack Bird came close to scoring when a bouncing ball slipped through his hands, but Smith broke through the Saints' defense for a spectacular individual try shortly thereafter. Just before the interval, Newman finished a sweeping move in the corner to make it three tries before the break. Early in the second half, Tom Holroyd appeared to add a fourth after the restart, but the video referee ruled that the ball had not been grounded, nullifying the effort.
Leeds soon restored their momentum when Bird released Hall with a deft flick, allowing the experienced winger to slide over for his own try. St Helens managed a consolation score when Jack Welsby broke away from a Jonny Lomax pass, evading a last‑ditch tackle by Lachie Miller and grounding the ball, with Sailor converting.
However, Leeds quickly re‑established their dominance. Connor’s tactical kicking created two more opportunities. He sent a delicate grubber that Handley collected for a try, and later executed a deliberate kick against the post, enabling Croft to gather the rebound and score. Both conversions were successful, cementing Leeds' superiority.
The match also featured peripheral storylines. Huddersfield secured a crucial win near the bottom of the table, defeating Leigh 30‑18, with Cole Geyer scoring a brace and the Giants posting five tries to climb to 14 points. Meanwhile, Catalans Dragons travelled to Castleford, where a power outage caused a 35‑minute interruption in the second half.
After play resumed, the Dragons completed a 34‑6 victory, moving up to eighth place. Toby Sexton, Edenn Rogers‑Smith, Leo Darrelatour, Ben Condon and Lewis Dodd all contributed to the scoring, while Castleford’s lone try came from Lazarus Vaalepu on the club’s centenary anniversary – a night that proved disappointing for the home fans. Overall, Leeds' comprehensive win not only restored them to the summit of the Super League but also dealt a significant blow to St Helens' play‑off ambitions.
With only two fixtures remaining, the Rhinos will look to maintain their momentum, while the Saints must regroup quickly if they hope to reclaim a top‑six position. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League match live this season, with two games each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.