Leeds Rout St Helens 34-6 to Return to Super League Summit

Leeds Rhinos returned to the top of Super League with a commanding 34-6 victory away to St Helens on Friday, scoring six tries and taking an 18-0 advantage into halftime. The Guardian reported that the result strengthened Leeds’ position in the race for the League Leaders’ Shield while leaving Saints with only a remote route into the playoffs.

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Chris Hankinson opened the scoring from a Jake Connor pass before Cameron Smith’s solo try doubled the visitors’ advantage. Connor then supplied Harry Newman for Leeds’ third try as the Rhinos pulled clear late in the first half. St Helens had earlier negotiated 10 minutes with Daniel Suluka-Fifita in the sin-bin, but could not prevent Leeds from building a three-score lead before the interval.

The hosts needed a quick response after halftime, but Leeds extended their advantage instead. Ryan Hall crossed to make it 22-0, effectively putting the contest beyond St Helens. Jack Welsby then broke from deep to score Saints’ only try of the match, ensuring the home side avoided being shut out.

Any prospect of a sustained comeback disappeared immediately. St Helens knocked on from the set after Welsby’s score, and Connor’s kick was grounded by Leeds captain Ash Handley. Brodie Croft added the Rhinos’ sixth try after another Connor kick unsettled the Saints defence, completing the scoring at 34-6. It was Croft’s 28th try of the season, according to The Guardian’s match report.

With two rounds remaining in the regular season, Leeds are set to face Wigan next Saturday in a match that could decide top spot. Their position also means a top-two finish, and the accompanying bye into the playoff semifinals, is now highly likely. Connor’s distribution and kicking were central to a result that kept the Rhinos in control of their own finish.

St Helens, meanwhile, are in danger of missing the end-of-season playoffs for the first time in 60 years. The Guardian reported that Saints probably need to win both remaining fixtures by substantial margins while also benefiting from results elsewhere. Back-to-back victories before Friday had revived their hopes, but the scale of this defeat left their postseason chances hanging by a thread.