Leigh Leopards delivered a dominant performance, crushing St Helens 48-10 and ensuring that the Saints missed the Super League play‑offs for the very first time in their long history. The heavy defeat, combined with Hull Kingston Rovers' emphatic 36-6 win over Huddersfield, solidified the six teams that will contest the post‑season: Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Leigh Leopards, Hull KR and the newly promoted Robins.
As a result, St Helens slipped to seventh place, ending their campaign without a chance to fight for a Grand Final berth and marking the lowest finish the club has ever recorded in the top flight. The historic miss is especially bitter for St Helens because it ends a run of play‑off appearances that stretches back to the 1964‑65 season. The club’s recent turmoil has been evident, highlighted by the sacking of head coach Paul Rowley less than a year after his appointment. Looking ahead, the Saints will welcome Australian national team coach Kevin Walters in 2027, hoping his experience can restore the side to its former four‑in‑a‑row championship glory.
Meanwhile, over in East Hull, long‑time coach Willie Peters enjoyed a fitting farewell. He guided Hull KR to a play‑off‑clinching victory before departing for the new NRL franchise PNG Chiefs in 2027.
The 47‑year‑old, who led the Rovers to a historic treble and a World Club Challenge title last season, will leave a legacy of success as the team prepares for its final regular‑season clash against Leeds Rhinos. The match at the Progress with Unity Stadium began with St Helens needing a win to keep any slim play‑off hopes alive.
Early opportunities were squandered through handling errors, and a thin bench left the Saints vulnerable. Leigh seized the initiative quickly. A well‑placed kick created space for Josh Charnley, who crossed for a try and celebrated his contract extension with the club.
Minutes later, Innes Senior burst down the left wing, linking with David Armstrong for a second try that gave Leigh a 12‑0 lead within the first fifteen minutes. 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 effort saw Sailor feed Harry Robertson, who fended off defenders and broke the line, with the full‑back supporting to finish the try and convert, narrowing the gap to 12‑10. Leigh, however, restored their advantage after only three minutes. Senior attacked again on the left, finding Umyla Hanley through a massive gap as Matty Evans was forced out by Adam Cook.
The try was followed by a successful conversion, and before the half‑time whistle Cook added a speculative penalty goal from Edwin Ipape, extending the lead to 24‑10. The second half deteriorated further for St Helens. Centre Percival received a sin‑bin for a high tackle, prompting a chorus of applause from supporters who recognized his impending retirement as a club legend.
With the Saints down a man for nearly two minutes, Edwin Ipape powered over from close range, and Cook’s conversion pushed Leigh to 30‑10 with fifteen minutes remaining. St Helens’ defence continued to crumble. Hanley scored his second try as three defenders failed to halt his momentum, and Jacob Alick‑Wiencke added another, prompting the home crowd to chant that the Saints were "falling apart again." Cook’s reliable boot added another conversion, taking the score to 42‑10.
In the final minutes, despite torrential rain, Robbie Mulhern capped the night for Leigh on his 100th appearance, crossing for a try that sealed a 48‑10 victory. The Leopards celebrated their triumph while St Helens were left to reflect on a night that will be remembered as a low point in their storied history. Hull KR’s victory over Huddersfield confirmed their place in the top six, though they will not enjoy a home advantage in either of the two opening play‑off rounds.
Early tries from Elliot Minchella, Arthur Mourgue and Jack Broadbent ended a three‑match losing streak for the Rovers and demonstrated that, even without the influential Mikey Lewis—who is expected back from suspension for the final regular‑season game—the team can still dominate. Huddersfield, meanwhile, have shed the reputation of being a perennial relegation candidate. Under Jim Lenihan, they have won five of their last six fixtures and arrived in East Hull with confidence, only to be overpowered by a Hull KR side that still possesses the hunger that drove them to a historic treble last season. In another highlight of the round, Toulouse defeated Hull KR 44‑30 in France.
Henry O'Kane was instrumental, scoring two tries, while Cesar Rouge contributed a try, six conversions and two penalties, ensuring a comfortable home win. Hull KR fought back after the break with two tries from Lewis Martin and a double from captain Aidan Sezer, but Toulouse’s second‑half response proved decisive.
Hull KR’s next challenge will be an away game at Leeds Rhinos in the final round of the regular Betfred Super League season. O'Kane opened scoring early, and the Rovers built a 30‑0 lead at half‑time after Paul Ulberg crossed following a pass from Mathieu Jussaume.
Despite a late surge from Hull KR, including contributions from Martin, Sezer and Logan Moy, the gap remained too large, and Olly Ashall‑Bott’s late try sealed the victory for Toulouse. Overall, the weekend’s results reshaped the play‑off picture, confirmed the end of an era for St Helens, and highlighted the impending departures of two seasoned coaches—Paul Rowley from St Helens and Willie Peters from Hull KR—both of whom will seek new challenges abroad. As the Super League moves toward its climax, fans can look forward to intense battles for the League Leaders’ Shield and the coveted Grand Final spots, with Sky Sports broadcasting every match live, including exclusive round‑by‑round coverage and additional fixtures on Sky Sports+.