Leigh Leopards delivered a crushing 48‑10 victory over St Helens, a result that not only sealed a top‑six finish for Leigh but also marked the first occasion in the club's storied history that the Saints failed to qualify for the Super League play‑offs. The win, combined with Hull Kingston Rovers' dominant 36‑6 triumph over Huddersfield, confirmed the six teams that will contest the post‑season: Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Leigh Leopards, Hull KR and the Robins. St Helens, who finished seventh, will therefore miss out on the chance to fight for a Grand Final berth, a stark contrast to the club’s usual position among the league’s elite. The Saints' exclusion from the play‑offs is especially painful given that it is the first time they have missed out since the 1964‑65 season.
A turbulent campaign saw head coach Paul Rowley dismissed after less than a year in charge, and the club now looks ahead to the appointment of Australian national coach Kevin Walters for the 2027 season, hoping he can restore the former four‑in‑a‑row champions to a winning trajectory. In East Hull, the atmosphere was markedly different. Willie Peters, who has guided Hull KR to a historic treble and a World Club Challenge title, oversaw a decisive victory that secured the club’s place in the top six. Peters will depart at the end of the season to take up a role with the new NRL franchise PNG Hunters, making this likely his final home game as head coach.
The match at the Progress with Unity Stadium began with a simple objective for St Helens: secure a win to keep their slim play‑off hopes alive. Early opportunities fell away as handling errors and a thin bench hampered their momentum. Leigh, however, quickly established control. A well‑placed kick created space for Josh Charnley, who crossed for a try and celebrated by signing a contract extension with the Leopards.
Minutes later, Innes Senior burst downfield, and David Armstrong’s speed proved too much for the Saints’ defence, giving Leigh a 12‑0 lead within the first 15 minutes. St Helens managed to answer with a try from Jacob Douglas, set up by a clever flick from Tristan Sailor, and a subsequent team try that saw Sailor pass to Harry Robertson, who sliced through the defence before the full‑back finished the move and added the conversion, narrowing the gap to 12‑10. Yet Leigh responded within three minutes; Senior exploited the left edge again, and Umyla Hanley sprinted through a gap left by Matty Evans, extending the lead.
A speculative pass from Edwin Ipape was converted by Adam Cook just before halftime, leaving the visitors with a comfortable 24‑10 advantage. The second half deteriorated further for St Helens.
Their veteran centre, Percival, was sin‑binned for a high tackle, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd as he announced his retirement at season’s end. With a man down, Leigh capitalised: Ipape powered over from close range, and Cook’s conversion pushed the score to 30‑10 with only fifteen minutes left. Defensive lapses continued, allowing Hanley a second try, followed by Jacob Alick‑Wiencke’s effort, which sent the home supporters chanting that the Saints were “falling apart again.” Cook added another conversion, making it 42‑10.
In the final minutes, despite rain pelting the field, Robbie Mulhern celebrated his 100th appearance by scoring a try, and the extra points sealed a 48‑10 win for Leigh. The Leopards celebrated their emphatic victory while St Helens were left to contemplate a night that will be remembered as a low point in their otherwise illustrious history. Hull KR’s 36‑6 win over Huddersfield also secured their play‑off berth, although the club will not earn a home fixture in the first two rounds.
The Rovers, under the guidance of the 47‑year‑old Peters, displayed the attacking flair that made them champions last season, with early tries from Elliot Minchella, Arthur Mourgue and Jack Broadbent ending a three‑match losing streak. Even without the influential Mikey Lewis, who is expected to return from suspension for the final regular‑season game, Hull KR looked dominant.
Elsewhere, Huddersfield, having shed the reputation of being a “push‑over” after a strong run of five wins in six games under Jim Lenihan, travelled to East Hull only to fall short of a comeback, eventually losing 44‑30 to Toulouse in France. Henry O’Kane shone with two tries, while Cesar Rouge contributed a try, six conversions and two penalties to secure the French side’s victory in their final home match of the season.
Hull’s own campaign ended with a 30‑16 defeat to Toulouse, despite a spirited second‑half rally featuring two tries from Lewis Martin and a double from captain Aidan Sezer. The Tigers will travel to Leeds Rhinos for their final regular‑season fixture next Friday. Overall, the final round of fixtures has reshaped the Super League landscape dramatically.
Leigh’s ascent to the top six, Hull KR’s consolidation of a play‑off spot, and St Helens’ historic miss underscore the unpredictable nature of the competition. Fans can look forward to the upcoming play‑off battles, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with select matches also available on Sky Sports+.