Leeds re‑asserted their dominance in the Betfred Super League with a resounding 34‑6 triumph over St Helens at the Brewdog Stadium on Friday night. The Rhinos delivered a masterclass, crossing the try‑line six times and effectively quashing the Saints' recent surge, leaving the Merseyside side outside the coveted play‑off positions with only two fixtures remaining in the campaign. The match got off to an early spark when Chris Hankinson, fed by a perfectly timed delayed pass from Jake Connor, broke through the Saints' defence to score the opening try.
That early lead set the tone, and Leeds soon stretched their advantage with a rapid double‑try burst from Cameron Smith and Harry Newman before the half‑time whistle. The two backs displayed a blend of speed, vision and sheer power, leaving the St Helens back‑line scrambling to regroup. Leeds continued to pile on the pressure after the interval.
Veteran winger Ryan Hall, ever‑reliable on the flank, darted past a tired defence to touch down, while Ash Handley added another try after a clever grubber kick from Connor forced the Saints into a hurried scramble. The final try of the night came from Brodie Croft, who capitalised on a well‑placed kick that bounced off the post and was gathered cleanly. Throughout the game, Jake Connor proved instrumental not only as a play‑maker but also as the team's primary goal‑kicker, converting five of the six tries and adding two successful penalty attempts, though one attempt struck the upright late in the match. Leeds' performance was a stark contrast to the drama that unfolded earlier in the week when Wigan thrashed Hull KR, allowing the Rhinos to leapfrog the champions in the standings.
From the first whistle, Leeds imposed their game plan, applying relentless pressure that forced St Helens into errors. Interim coach Eamon O'Carroll, who had guided the Saints to back‑to‑back victories in an effort to revive their play‑off hopes, saw his side struggle to find rhythm against the disciplined Rhinos. The early dominance was evident when, just seven minutes in, Connor's deft pass set up Hankinson for the opening score. A brief moment of controversy followed when Cooper Jenkins appeared to extend Leeds' lead, only for the video referee to rule his effort a knock‑on in the build‑up.
Saints began to find a foothold later in the first half, with Deon Cross breaking through twice, but each time the Leeds defence held firm, and a potential try for Cross was disallowed after the referee deemed a pass from Tristan Sailor forward. Discipline also played a part in the contest. Leeds were reduced to twelve men temporarily when Daniel Suluka‑Fifita received a sin‑bin for a late tackle on Presley Cassell. Cassell, however, was able to return after passing a head injury assessment, and Leeds quickly re‑established their momentum upon his return.
Leeds' attacking flair continued to shine. Jack Bird came close to scoring a spectacular effort, only to see the ball bounce harmlessly away.
Cameron Smith then broke through the Saints' line for a brilliant solo try, showcasing his agility and footwork. Just before the break, Newman capped a sweeping move that sliced through the Saints' defence to finish off in the corner, making the scoreline look increasingly daunting for St Helens. The second half saw Leeds maintain their intensity.
A potential try by Tom Holroyd was overturned after the video referee determined that the ball had not been grounded cleanly. Nevertheless, the Rhinos kept the pressure on, and Bird delivered a pinpoint flick to Ryan Hall, who slid over for his second try of the evening, further widening the gap. St Helens managed a brief respite 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 restored their dominance. Connor displayed his kicking prowess again, delivering a delicate grubber that Handley collected for a try, and later executing a deliberate kick against the post that Croft pounced on to add the final score. Despite a late penalty attempt that clipped the post, Leeds' victory was never in doubt.
The win not only restored them to the top of the table but also dealt a significant blow to St Helens' aspirations of securing a play‑off berth. With only two games left, the Saints will need to regroup quickly if they hope to climb back into the top six.
In other league action, Huddersfield secured a crucial win at the lower end of the table, defeating Leigh 30‑18. Giants centre Cole Geyer was the standout, scoring twice as Huddersfield amassed five tries to climb to 14 points, overtaking second‑bottom York.
Leigh's Owen Trout gave his side an early boost with a first‑half try, but Huddersfield responded through Harry Rushton and Taane Milne to claim a 14‑6 lead at the break. Niall Evalds added a post‑break try to give Huddersfield breathing space before a seesaw battle unfolded. Leigh's Umyla Hanley narrowed the margin with a 59th‑minute score, only for Geyer to strike again seven minutes later, sealing the victory for the Giants. Meanwhile, the Catalans Dragons visited Castleford and produced a commanding 34‑6 win after a 35‑minute power outage forced a lengthy pause in the second half.
The Dragons, now eighth in the standings, benefited from tries by Toby Sexton, Edenn Rogers‑Smith, Leo Darrelatour, Ben Condon and Lewis Dodd. Castleford, commemorating the centenary of their first match, endured a disappointing night, with only Lazarus Vaalepu crossing for a solitary try.
The match narrative unfolded with Sexton scoring early under the posts after a well‑placed kick from Darrelatour. Rogers‑Smith added a second try, while Vaalepu's try on debut was a rare bright spot for the home side. Darrelatour then doubled his tally before the power failure halted play.
When action resumed, Charlie Staines powered through to set up Condon, who extended the lead beyond Castleford's reach. Dodd and Sexton added two more scores to cement the Dragons' victory. Sky Sports continues to broadcast every Super League game live this season, offering two exclusive live matches each round, with the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.
The league's extensive coverage ensures fans can follow every twist and turn as the race for the play‑offs intensifies.