Leeds reclaimed the summit of the Betfred Super League after delivering a commanding 34‑6 win at St Helens on Friday evening. The Rhinos crossed the line six times in a display that not only halted the Saints' recent surge but also consigned the Merseyside side to the outside of the play‑off positions with just two rounds left in the campaign.
The match got off to an early blaze when Chris Hankinson, set up by a perfectly timed delayed pass from Jake Connor, touched down after just seven minutes, giving Brad Arthur's men an early advantage. The momentum quickly shifted as Cameron Smith and Harry Newman each added a try in quick succession before the halftime whistle, cementing Leeds' dominance and leaving the home crowd stunned. Leeds continued to pile on the pressure after the break. Ryan Hall, Ash Handley and Brodie Croft each found the try‑line, completing a comprehensive victory.
Connor, who had already contributed a try, was flawless with the boot, converting five of the six tries and adding two extra‑point kicks, although he missed a late penalty that struck the post. The Rhinos' performance was a stark contrast to the previous night when Wigan thrashed Hull KR, allowing Leeds to leapfrog the champions in the standings. From the first whistle, Leeds imposed their game plan, stifling the Saints who had been buoyed by interim coach Eamon O'Carroll's back‑to‑back wins that had revived hopes of a top‑six finish. Leeds' early pressure was rewarded when Connor's clever pass found Hankinson for the opening score.
A brief moment of controversy followed when Cooper Jenkins appeared to add to the lead, only for the referee to rule a knock‑on in the build‑up, nullifying the effort. The Saints began to find some rhythm, but Deon Cross saw two potential tries denied – first by a solid Leeds defensive line and then by a forward pass from Tristan Sailor that was disallowed after a video review. Midway through the first half, Leeds were reduced to 12 men after Daniel Suluka‑Fifita received a sin‑bin for a late tackle on Presley Cassell. Cassell, however, passed a head injury assessment and returned to the field.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Leeds pressed on. Jack Bird came close to scoring when he chased a bouncing ball into the corner, but it was Cameron Smith who broke through the Saints' defense for a spectacular individual effort, showcasing his speed and agility. Just before the interval, Harry Newman completed a sweeping move, grounding the ball in the corner to make it three tries before the break. The Rhinos thought they had extended the margin further when Tom Holroyd appeared to crash over after the restart, but the video referee determined the ball had not been properly grounded, overturning the try.
The second half saw the Saints briefly revive their hopes when Jack Welsby broke free from a Jonny Lomax pass, evading a last‑ditch tackle by Lachie Miller to score, with Sailor converting. However, Leeds quickly re‑asserted control.
Connor's boot work set up two more scores: a delicate grubber kick that Handley collected for a try, and a deliberately placed kick against the post that Croft gathered and ran over for another. Leeds' relentless attack left the Saints with few opportunities, and the Rhinos' defense held firm, limiting any further Saint scoring chances. Connor missed a late penalty that hit the upright, but the result was already sealed.
In other league action, Huddersfield secured a crucial victory at the lower end of the table, beating Leigh 30‑18. Giants centre Cole Geyer shone, crossing twice as Huddersfield amassed five tries to climb to 14 points, overtaking second‑bottom York.
Leigh's Owen Trout opened the scoring early, but the Giants responded through Harry Rushton and Taane Milne to lead 14‑6 at halftime. After the break, Niall Evalds added a try for Huddersfield, while Leigh's Umyla Hanley pulled one back in the 59th minute, only for Geyer to strike again seven minutes later, sealing the win. The Catalans Dragons versus Castleford fixture was interrupted by a 35‑minute power outage in the second half. When play resumed, the Dragons dominated, eventually winning 34‑6.
Toby Sexton scored twice, with additional tries from Edenn Rogers‑Smith, Leo Darrelatour, Ben Condon and Lewis Dodd, propelling Catalans to eighth place. Castleford, celebrating the centenary of their inaugural match, could only muster a solitary try from Lazarus Vaalepu, making the night a disappointment for the home supporters. Overall, Leeds' emphatic victory not only restored them to the top of the Super League table but also dealt a significant blow to St Helens' play‑off ambitions.
With only two games remaining, the race for the top six is tightening, and every point will be fiercely contested as clubs vie for a place in the postseason. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League match live this season, with two fixtures each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining five available via Sky Sports+.