Leigh Leopards delivered a crushing 48‑10 victory over St Helens, a result that not only underscored Leigh's rising dominance but also sealed the Saints' first ever exclusion from the Super League play‑offs. The defeat, combined with Hull Kingston Rovers' emphatic 36‑6 win against Huddersfield, finalized the top‑six lineup for the postseason: 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 contest a Grand Final berth and marking the lowest point in the club's storied Super League history. The historic miss is especially bitter for St Helens, who have not failed to qualify for the top‑flight play‑offs since the 1964/65 season. Their season has been turbulent, highlighted by the abrupt dismissal of head coach Paul Rowley 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 once four‑in‑a‑row champions to trophy contention. Meanwhile, over in East Hull, long‑time head coach Willie Peters enjoyed a fitting farewell. His side clinched a play‑off‑guaranteeing win before he departs for the new NRL franchise PNG Chiefs in 2027.
The match at the Progress with Unity Stadium presented St Helens with a straightforward task: secure a win to keep their slim play‑off hopes alive. Early opportunities fell away due to unforced errors, and a thin bench compounded their difficulties. Leigh seized the initiative early.
A well‑placed kick created space for Josh Charnley, who crossed for a try and celebrated by signing a contract extension with the club. Minutes later, Innes Senior broke through the defensive line, and David Armstrong's speed proved unstoppable, giving Leigh a 12‑0 lead within the first quarter of the game. St Helens responded through a series of set‑piece moves. Tristan Sailor delivered a flick pass to Jacob Douglas, who dived over in the corner.
A subsequent team try saw Sailor shift left, feed Harry Robertson on the right, and Robertson break the line before his fullback completed the effort and added the conversion, narrowing the gap to 12‑10. Leigh, however, re‑established control within three minutes.
Senior attacked the left edge again, this time finding Umyla Hanley, who exploited a large gap left by Matty Evans. After the try and conversion, Leigh added another before halftime when Adam Cook capitalised on a speculative pass from Edwin Ipape, extending the lead to 24‑10 at the break. The second half deteriorated rapidly for St Helens.
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, Ipape powered over from close range, and Cook added another conversion, pushing the score to 30‑10 with only fifteen minutes left. Leigh's defence continued to dominate.
Hanley scored his second try as three defenders failed to bring him down, and Jacob Alick‑Wiencke added a further blow. The home supporters sang "Saints are falling apart again" as Cook's conversion took the tally to 42‑10. In the final moments, rain pouring over the stadium, Robbie Mulhern capped his 100th appearance with a try, sealing a 48‑10 triumph for the Leopards. The victory was a night to remember for Leigh and a night to forget for St Helens.
Elsewhere, Hull KR's 36‑6 demolition of Huddersfield confirmed their play‑off berth. The 47‑year‑old coach, who guided Hull KR to a historic treble and a World Club Challenge title last season, will leave at season's end to join the PNG Hunters in Australia's NRL. Although Hull KR have secured a top‑six spot, they will not enjoy a home tie in either of the two play‑off rounds. Hull KR's early tries from Elliot Minchella, Arthur Mourgue, and Jack Broadbent broke the Saints' three‑match losing streak, even without the influential Mikey Lewis, who is expected back from suspension for the final regular‑season game.
Huddersfield, having shed the reputation of being a push‑over team, arrived in East Hull on the back of an impressive five wins from six matches under Jim Lenihan. Their form, however, was insufficient against a dominant Hull KR side. In a separate fixture, Toulouse defeated Hull 44‑30 in France. Henry O'Kane contributed two tries, while Cesar Rouge added a try, six conversions, and two penalties, securing the hosts' victory in their final home game of the season.
Despite a spirited comeback featuring two tries from Lewis Martin and a post‑break double from captain Aidan Sezer, Hull could not overturn the deficit. Hull's upcoming match against Leeds Rhinos away will be their final regular‑season encounter.
O'Kane opened the scoring early and added a second after Luke Polselli's try, followed by a close‑range effort from James Roumanos. By halftime, the score read 30‑0 after Paul Ulberg crossed from a Mathieu Jussaume pass.
In the second half, Martin, Sezer (who also kicked five conversions), and Logan Moy added points, but Toulouse's response, including a try from Olly Ashall‑Bott, ensured the comeback fell short. Overall, the closing weeks of the Super League season have been marked by dramatic shifts in fortunes, historic milestones, and poignant farewells. The confirmed top‑six lineup sets the stage for an exciting play‑off series, while St Helens must grapple with an unprecedented absence from the postseason and plan for a rebuild under new leadership. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League game live this season, with two matches each round shown exclusively, and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.