Impressive St Helens sink Leeds to relieve pressure on Wellens
St Helens potentially breathed new life into their season and quietened some of the noise surrounding their inconsistency with a victory over Leeds Rhinos that could easily represent a watershed moment for the remainder of 2025.
Paul Wellens' side have been some distance from the standards many expect from the most successful team in Super League history, with the Saints some way adrift of the leading pack at the halfway stage of the season. They were expected to fall short here too against a Leeds side that once again look like title contenders.
But the Saints were wonderful from start to finish, delivering a gameplan built on huge defensive effort in testing conditions to run out worthy winners and reduce the gap to the third-placed Rhinos to just a solitary win. It will not completely alleviate the pressure surrounding Wellens, but it is a start.
In searing heat, the opening quarter was as attritional as you would have expected. It felt very much like a night where the side who did the basics of the game the best would emerge victorious and in the opening half-hour, it was the hosts who did exactly that against the Rhinos.
The contest was played predominantly inside Leeds' own half in the early exchanges thanks to the Saints' clever kicking game, relentlessly high completion rate – and a willingness to punish any error the Rhinos made. Leeds were far from sloppy, but the two mistakes they did make resulted in points for the hosts.
Lachie Miller's knock-on close to his own line allowed the Saints to go for goal and open the scoring through the boot of Kyle Feldt, and it was clear even from an early stage that points would be at a premium.
That was evidenced further when Leeds were penalised from the scrum and despite some murmurings of discontent from the terraces, Feldt again called for the tee to make it 4-0.
It may have appeared slightly sterile in terms of attacking endeavour, but it was clear the Saints' strategy was to stick to the basics given the inconsistencies they have endured throughout 2025.
At that point, the hosts' completion rate was touching 100%, but they too began to turn the ball over as half-time approached as their energy levels began to dip. A wayward pass from Tristan Sailor fell into the arms of Ryan Hall and had it not been for a sensational covering tackle from Harry Robertson, Hall would have levelled the scores.
It was a huge play, and became even more important seconds from the break as another Leeds error, this time from Morgan Gannon, was punished. The Saints held their nerve in attack as Sailor's pass allowed Deon Cross to score and make it 8-0 at the interval.
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There was no getting away from the fact the Rhinos were below the standards they have set so far this season in that first half. With that in mind, you expected a response: and whatever was said at half-time clearly the desired impact as Leeds began the second half with greater purpose.
They were rewarded with their first try seven minutes after the restart as Miller's break led to the Rhinos working the ball left and Riley Lumb crossing in the corner to halve the deficit. Given the frailties we have seen in this St Helens side this year, you wondered if that shift in momentum would prove significant.
But to their immense credit, they held firm. And having ridden out more Leeds pressure, they put themselves in a position to capitalise on another Rhinos error close to their own line and score a crucial try with 15 minutes remaining.
The Saints executed a scrum play to perfection to send Owen Dagnall across for a wonderful try, with Feldt converting from the touchline to open up a ten-point lead. There were late chances for Leeds to set up a grandstand finale but it was the Saints who finished strongest, with Sailor crossing on the hooter.
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