Leigh Leopards delivered a commanding 48-10 victory over St Helens, a result that sealed the Saints' exclusion from the Super League play‑offs for the first time in the club's storied history. The win, coupled with Hull KR's dominant 36-6 triumph over Huddersfield, finalized the top‑six lineup: Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Leigh Leopards, Hull KR and the Robins. Consequently, St Helens slipped to seventh place, ending their campaign without a chance to fight for a Grand Final berth and marking their lowest finish ever in the Super League era.
The failure to qualify for the post‑season is a historic low for St Helens, who have not missed the play‑offs since the 1964/65 season. The disappointment follows a turbulent year that saw the club dismiss head coach Paul Rowley less than twelve months into his tenure.
Looking ahead, the Saints will welcome Australian national team coach Kevin Walters in 2027, hoping his experience can restore the former four‑in‑a‑row champions to their former glory. Meanwhile, in East Hull, Hull KR coach Willie Peters enjoyed a fitting farewell, guiding his side to a play‑off‑clinching win before departing for the new NRL franchise PNG Chiefs in 2027. The match at the Progress with Unity Stadium was a straightforward proposition for St Helens: secure a win and keep their slim play‑off hopes alive. Early opportunities fell away through unforced errors, and a thin bench left the Saints vulnerable as the game progressed.
Leigh took advantage of the opening exchanges. A well‑placed kick created space for Josh Charnley, who crossed for a try and celebrated his contract extension with the club. Two minutes later, Innes Senior burst down the left flank, linking with David Armstrong for a second try, giving Leigh a 12-0 lead inside the first quarter of an hour. St Helens responded with a series of attacking moves.
From a scrum, Tristan Sailor delivered a flick pass to Jacob Douglas, who dived over in the corner. A spectacular team try followed when Sailor cut to the left, passed to Harry Robertson on the right, who dummy‑danced past defenders before his full‑back finished the play and added the conversion, narrowing the gap to 12-10. Leigh, however, restored their advantage within three minutes. Senior again attacked the left edge, this time finding Umyla Hanley, who exploited a gap left by Matty Evans and scored.
Cook converted, and a speculative pass from Edwin Ipape was intercepted and kicked by Cook for a try just before halftime, extending the lead to 24-10. The second half deteriorated further for the Saints. Centre Percival was sin‑binned for a high tackle, and the crowd applauded his impending retirement as a club legend. With St Helens down a man for nearly two minutes, Ipape powered over from close range, and Cook's conversion pushed Leigh to 30-10 with fifteen minutes remaining.
St Helens' defense continued to crumble. Hanley added a second try, weaving through three defenders, while Jacob Alick‑Wiencke scored later, prompting the home crowd to chant that the Saints were falling apart.
Cook's reliable boot added another conversion, making the score 42-10. In the final moments, rain pouring onto the pitch, Robbie Mulhern capped his 100th appearance with a try, and the extra points sealed a 48-10 victory for Leigh. The Leopards celebrated wildly as St Helens were left to contemplate a night they would rather forget.
Elsewhere, Hull KR confirmed their play‑off spot with a sweeping 36-6 win over Huddersfield. The 47‑year‑old head coach, who guided the club to a historic treble last season and a World Club Challenge title, announced his departure at season's end to join the new PNG Hunters in the Australian NRL. Although Hull KR secured a top‑six finish, they will not enjoy a home advantage in either of the first two play‑off rounds. Hull KR's early dominance was evident as Elliot Minchella, Arthur Mourgue and Jack Broadbent each crossed for tries in the first half, ending the hosts' three‑match losing streak.
Despite the absence of star winger Mikey Lewis, who is expected back from suspension for the final regular‑season game, the team displayed the attacking flair that characterised their title‑winning campaign. Huddersfield, having shed the reputation of being a push‑over side, arrived in East Hull on the back of an impressive run of five wins in six games under Jim Lenihan. However, they were unable to mount a comeback, succumbing to a 44-30 defeat against Toulouse in France. Henry O'Kane scored twice for the French side, while Cesar Rouge contributed a try, six conversions and two penalties to secure the win in their final home fixture.
Hull's own season ended with a 30-16 loss to Toulouse. After a strong start, with O'Kane scoring early and adding another before halftime, the French side pulled away with a flurry of second‑half points, including tries from Lewis Martin and captain Aidan Sezer.
Hull will travel to Leeds Rhinos for their final regular‑season match next Friday. Overall, the final round of fixtures reshaped the play‑off picture, confirming Leeds, Wigan, Warrington, Leigh, Hull KR and the Robins as the six contenders.
St Helens, once a dominant force, now face a period of rebuilding under new leadership, while Leigh and Hull KR look forward to testing their mettle in the upcoming knockout stages. Sky Sports will broadcast every Super League game this season, with two matches each round shown exclusively live and the remaining five available on Sky Sports+.