It was Rhinos’ 18th defeat in their last 19 meetings with Saints, a damning statistic which highlights how they have fallen away from the top teams over the past seven years. They also haven’t won a Cup tie against Super League opposition since lifting the trophy in 2020.
They played okay in the first half; their physicality was good and they defended strongly. Trailing only 6-2 at the break, it was anyone’s game at that stage, but Leeds collapsed alarmingly after the interval, conceding three tries between the 48th and 56th minutes. That was similar to the Super League round one loss to Wakefield, whose game-winning purple patch came in the first half.
From 22-2 down, some pride was restored by a couple of late converted tries and there were some positives: Rhinos’ effort wasn’t in question, Lachie Miller got through 80 minutes in his first rugby since last September, Harry Newman and James Bentley had strong games and - one wild pass into touch apart - Jake Connor made a good job of his switch into the halves. But an 80-minute performance is still lacking.
Rhinos went ahead after 18 minutes when Newman forced his way to Saints’ line, the ball was stolen and Connor took the two. That was as close as Leeds got to a try for 65 minutes. Nine later they were penalised for not standing square and at the end of the subsequent set, Kyle Feldt dived over from Joe Batchelor’s pass after Rhinos’ defence failed to deal with Jonny Lomax’s kick. Mark Percival added a touchline goal.
The score stayed at 6-2 until eight minutes after the interval when Harry Robertson broke down Leeds’ left and sent the supporting Tristan Sailor in. Just five minutes after that, Matt Whitley crossed from Lomax’s pass and Percival’s third goal made it 18-2.
Saints’ fifth successive penalty led to their fourth try, Robertson touching down Sailor’s grubber and another Percival goal made it 22-2.
At that stage, it was edging towards embarrassing, but Leeds got some pride back late on. From six-two in Saints’ favour when they scored their fourth try, Rhinos got the last two. The danger of a second successive tryless game was averted when Ash Handley touched down from Connor’s kick and in the final moments Newman finished really well from a pass by Ryan Hall. Connor converted both.
In a selection surprise, Jarrod O’Connor was left out of the matchday side, dropping to 18th man. Almost inevitably, starting hooker Andy Ackers picked up a hamstring injury on the stroke of half-time, though Jack Sinfield did a decent job filling in. Tom Nicholson-Watton was on the bench for his first appearance this season. In other changes, Cooper Jenkins started at prop, with Keenan Palasia switching to loose-forward and Morgan Gannon moving to the bench.
St Helens: Welsby, Feldt, Robertson, Percival, Bennison, Sailor, Lomax, Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Sironen, Batchelor, Knowles. Subs Whitley, Paasi, Wingfield, Delaney
Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Lumb, Newman, Handley, Hall, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, Ackers, Jenkins, Bentley, McDonnell, Palasia. Subs Lisone, Gannon, Sinfield, Nicholson-Watton.
Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan). Attendance: 7,531.
Here’s how the players rated.
7. Scrum-half: Jake Connor (squad number 18)
Set up the try with a kick, one superb ball-and-all tackle, did okay 7. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
8. Prop: Mikolaj Oledzki (no 8)
Strong first stint, but the opposition pack was dominant 5. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
9. Sub: Andy Ackers (no 9)
Worked hard, knocked-on just before the break and immediately picked up an injury which ended his night 5. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
10. Prop: Cooper Jenkins (no 17)
A penalty led to Saints’ first try, solid enough if nothing spectacular 5. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
11. Second-row: James Bentley (no 11)
Did well to play on after an early knock; held up over the line battled really hard 7. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
12. Second-row: James McDonnell (no 12)
Defended well in the first half, worked hard but no breaks 5. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com