Leigh Leopards delivered a crushing 48‑10 victory over St Helens, a result that sealed the Saints' first ever exclusion from the Super League play‑offs. The win, combined with Hull Kingston Rovers' dominant 36‑6 triumph over Huddersfield Giants, locked in the top‑six positions for Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Leigh Leopards and Hull KR. Consequently, St Helens slipped to seventh place, ending their campaign without a chance to fight for a Grand Final berth and marking the lowest finish in the club's storied Super League history. The historic miss‑out is the first time St Helens have failed to qualify for the post‑season since the 1964/65 season.
The disappointment follows a turbulent year that saw head coach Paul Rowley dismissed after less than twelve months in charge. Looking ahead, the club will welcome Australian national coach Kevin Walters in 2027, hoping his experience can restore the former four‑in‑a‑row champions to their winning ways. Over in East Hull, it was a bittersweet night for Hull KR.
Long‑time head coach Willie Peters oversaw what is likely his final home game before departing for the new NRL franchise PNG Hunters in 2027. Peters' side confirmed their play‑off berth with a comprehensive victory, capping off a season that included a historic treble and a World Club Challenge title. Despite securing a top‑six spot, the Rovers will not be able to host a home match in either of the first two play‑off rounds. The match at the Progress with Unity Stadium began with a simple objective for St Helens: win and keep their slim play‑off hopes alive.
Early opportunities were squandered through handling errors, and a thin bench left the Saints vulnerable. Leigh, however, quickly found rhythm. A well‑placed kick created space for Josh Charnley, who crossed for a try and celebrated by signing a contract extension with the club.
Just two minutes later, Innes Senior burst down the left flank, outpacing David Armstrong to give Leigh a 12‑0 lead inside the first fifteen minutes. St Helens responded through a series of set‑piece moves; a flick pass from Tristan Sailor found Jacob Douglas diving into the corner, and a spectacular team try saw Sailor feed Harry Robertson, who sliced through the defence before his fullback completed the conversion, narrowing the gap to 12‑10. Leigh's momentum was undiminished.
Senior struck again, this time finding Umyla Hanley through a massive gap as Matty Evans was forced out by Adam Cook. The try was converted, and just before halftime, Cook capitalised on a speculative pass from Edwin Ipape, slotting the ball under the posts to extend the lead to 24‑10 at the break. The second half deteriorated further for the Saints.
Centre Percival was sin‑binned for a high tackle, prompting a standing ovation from the St Helens faithful as he announced his impending retirement as a club legend. With a man down, Leigh pressed their advantage.
Ipape powered over from close range, and Cook added the conversion, pushing the score to 30‑10 with fifteen minutes remaining. St Helens' defence continued to crumble, allowing Hanley a second try despite three defenders attempting to halt him.
Jacob Alick‑Wiencke added another score shortly after, and Cook's reliable boot turned it into a 42‑10 lead. In the dying moments, with rain pelting the field, Robbie Mulhern marked his 100th appearance with a try, and the conversion sealed a 48‑10 win for Leigh. The Leopards celebrated wildly while St Helens were left to contemplate a night they would rather forget. Hull KR's own celebration was tinged with emotion as Willie Peters bid farewell to Craven Park.
The 47‑year‑old coach, who guided the Rovers to a historic treble last season and a World Club Challenge victory, will depart after the season ends to take up a role with the PNG Hunters, a new franchise in Australia's NRL competition. Elsewhere, the regular season produced several notable results. Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors continued their unbeaten runs, while Warrington Wolves suffered a narrow 25‑18 defeat to Wakefield Trinity as the battle for the third spot intensified. In France, Toulouse Olympique overwhelmed Hull FC 44‑30, with Henry O'Kane scoring twice and Cesar Rouge contributing a try, six conversions and two penalties.
Hull's comeback attempt was sparked by captain Aidan Sezer and Lewis Martin, each adding two tries after the break, but the French side responded with two further scores, sealing the victory. Hull's next fixture will be an away clash against Leeds Rhinos in the final round of the Betfred Super League regular season. The season's narrative has been one of shifting fortunes. Traditional powerhouses St Helens and Hull KR have both faced unexpected challenges, while emerging teams like Leigh Leopards have seized the moment to claim a place among the elite.
As the play‑offs approach, the top six will battle for the coveted Grand Final berth, and fans can anticipate a dramatic conclusion to a year filled with surprises, coaching changes, and historic milestones.