St Helens 6 Leeds Rhinos 34

Leeds Rhinos moved back to the top of the Betfred Super League table with two games remaining as they produced a 34-6 result to defeat St Helens at The BrewDog Stadium in round 25.

After seeing Wigan Warriors go temporarily top 24 hours before the fixture, the Rhinos produced their best winning result at St Helens in the post war-era as six different players contributed tries in a thorough victory. Amongst them, Brodie Croft moved within one try of teammate Maika Sivo in the season’s standings with his second-half effort, plus Cameron Smith added a superb solo effort to get Leeds over the line.

Two changes for Rhinos’ head coach Brad Arthur saw Jack Bird and Danny Levi reintroduced to the side that beat York Knights so convincingly on the road. Bird replaced Riley Lumb as the backline was reshuffled so Harry Newman partnered Ash Handley, whilst Bird was joined by Hall on the opposite edge. Levi was added to the bench for his first game after missing the last five matches, forcing Zak Lloyd to drop out of the matchday 17.

Two milestone appearances saw Jarrod O’Connor mark 150 Leeds appearances, plus Matt Lodge also ran out in career game 150.

A bright start should have seen Leeds’ Brodie Croft scamper over for the game’s opening try after the away side’s first attacking set ended within scoring range. Captain Ash Handley was eager to keep the ball alive, and as recipient Miller fired a pass into the chest of Presley Cassell, the loose forward set Croft up to break the line with a brilliant pass, only for Suluka-Fifita to catch the half-back’s ankles at the last minute.

The away side did find points before the ten-minute mark as Chris Hankinson continued a superb season with his 11^th try of the year. Tristan Sailor’s poor pass gifted the Rhinos possession as Ryan Hall and Jack Bird started a counterattack deep in the Red V’s half. Off the back of a great charge by Mikolaj Oledzki through the middle of the field, the prop forward’s quick play of the ball proved vital in giving Jake Connor time to pick his pass for Hankinson to stroll in.

The Rhinos almost grabbed back-to-back scores – only for Cooper Jenkins’ effort to be denied by referee Marcus Griffiths for a Croft forward pass in the build-up. The Saints immediately pressed downfield looking for an answer, but Eamonn O’Carroll’s side came up short of the line when Deon Cross’ break down the left couldn’t put points on the board as Leeds’ defence stood strong.

Even when Suluka-Fifita was sin-binned for a late and unnecessary hit on Presley Cassell, the one-man advantage seemed to benefit Leeds’ opponent much like the Leigh match a fortnight ago. The edge combination of Jack Welsby and Cross once again proved difficult for the Rhinos to handle, and after Jenkins was hit with a late penalty call for the prop’s collision with Jonny Lomax to add to Leeds’ woes, Cross looked to have found a try from a long Sailor pass. On a second review, the touch judge official called the pass forward as the visitors survived.

Hankinson’s sole try continued to be the difference on the scoreboard in a free-flowing first 40 minutes, as the Rhinos were drawn into a close contest. Cross continued to challenge Hall and Bird, but the duo managed to lock the winger down to keep the home outfit scoreless. In attack, a remarkable 20-40 from Connor should have seen Bird score in the corner, but Croft’s decision to kick for the centre rather than pass allowed Sailor to save the situation.

The match needed a game-breaker with half time in sight, and Cameron Smith produced a remarkable try to end the scoring drought. Much like his effort against Wakefield in August, the forward cantered towards the Saints line, stepped around the attempted tackle of Suluka-Fifita before running through Sailor to hit the try line for a hugely important try.

No sooner had they recorded a try, the Rhinos managed to all-but end the contest with a third score through Newman. The passage of play initially looked as though Saints were going to spark a counter-attack as former Leeds man Nene Macdonald put a hand on Croft’s pass, but Connor masterfully reclaimed the ball midair before feeding Handley to put Newman over in the corner for a fantastic effort. The reigning Man of Steel added his third conversion to make the score 18-0 at half-time.

A disastrous start to the second half should have seen Leeds touch down for a fourth try as the home side took their time getting back into the flow of the game. Sailor, Cross and Alex Walmsley all allowed Miller’s kick-off to bounce before going out of play to force Saints into a goal-line drop-out, in-turn setting up Smith to post Tom Holroyd through for a score. Video referee Jack Smith overturned the on-field call though as the Leeds man didn’t get the ball on the ground.

A flat atmosphere amongst the home fans had very little to be excited by as Leeds continued to throw the ball around with ease, and it was only a matter of time before the Rhinos added to their scoreline. A poor end to the Saints attacking set handed Jarrod O’Connor the ball heading back downfield, and as Croft pulled the Rhinos attack out to the right, Bird timed his offload to perfection as Hall recorded his third try in successive games in the corner. Connor failed to convert from the sideline as the score remained 22-0.

Frightened as the Rhinos came forward once more, Jake Davies was forced into action from a fashioned Lachie Miller kick as the back rower opted for security under pressure from Bird to take the ball out of play for a goal line drop out. Connor was unable to convert the chance for points as the half back couldn’t find Newman with a pass over the top, and subsequently St Helens recorded their first points of the night. Putting the game on his shoulders, Welsby carried strongly through the attempted tackle of Watkins and raced around Miller to get a score back for the home side.

Soon after conceding, the Rhinos were celebrating at the opposite end of the field once again as skipper Handley and the free-scoring Croft got in on the try-scoring antics. A bullet pass from Lomax had ricochetted off the chest of Cross to be taken away by Bird for Leeds, and as their attack drifted out to the left, Connor’s deft grubber kick sat up in time for Handley, who took advantage of the wet conditions to slide over.

The boot of Connor also conjured a chance for his half-back partner as a direct kick in behind had both Handley in pursuit, but it was Croft who landed on the ball first to take his total in Super League to 28 tries for the season. Connor converted to make the score 34-6.

Saints kept asking questions of the Leeds defence despite the one-sided scoreline. David Klemmer and Joe Shorrocks progressed a promising attack, only for Cross to put the ball on the ground. Sailor and Welsby also combined as the try-scorer tried a break away, only to be halted by a strong tackle by Hankinson to shut the play down. The Leeds back rower, who showcased his true versatility to swap in at full back as Arthur opted to rest Miller for the latter stages, gladly took a high shot moments later, but Connor’s penalty goal agonisingly hit the uprights. Regardless, the final whistle confirmed the Rhinos’ place back at the summit of the league table and set up a mega clash against Wigan Warriors at AMT Headingley in a week.

Teams

Saints

6. Tristan Sailor, 26. Jacob Douglas, 25. Nene Macdonald, 1. Jack Welsby, 5. Deon Cross, 3. Harry Robertson, 7. Jonny Lomax, 13. David Klemmer, 22. Joe Shorrocks, 35. Daniel Suluka-Fifita, 28. Jake Davies, 12. Shane Wright, 14. Jacob Host

Subs: 8. Alex Walmsley, 30. Tom Humphreys, 37. Billy Keeley, 38. Matty Evans, (18th Man – 4. Mark Percival)

Tries: Welsby (51)

Goals: Sailor 1/1

Sin Bin: Suluka-Fifita (15 – Late hit)

Rhinos

1. Lachie Miller, 5. Ryan Hall, 33. Jack Bird, 4. Ash Handley (C), 3. Harry Newman, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Jake Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Jarrod O’Connor, 15. Cooper Jenkins, 14. Chris Hankinson, 11. Kallum Watkins, 20. Presley Cassell

Subs: 10. Tom Holroyd, 17. Cameron Smith, 23. Danny Levi, 31. Matt Lodge (18th Man – 28. Fergus McCormack)

Tries: Hankinson (6), Smith (32), Newman (36), Hall (46), Handley (54), Croft (62)

Goals: Connor 5/6

Penalty Goal: Connor 0/1