Leeds move back to top of Super League with dominant win at St Helens

Leeds Rhinos moved back to the top of the Super League on points difference after a comprehensive victory at St Helens' Brewdog Stadium on 28 August 2026, and will secure the League Leaders' Shield for the first time in 11 years if they beat second-placed Wigan next Saturday.

Leeds recorded their first win at Saints since March 2023, delivering a rare and convincing away performance that left St Helens' play-off prospects in jeopardy. Saints failed to capitalise on Hull KR's heavy defeat by Wigan the previous night and remain two points behind sixth-placed Hull KR with two matches remaining. Huddersfield upset Leigh with a five-try win, and Catalans beat Cas in a game halted by a power outage.

The game began after an impeccably observed minute's silence for the late Sir Billy Boston, and Leeds opened the scoring when Jake Connor's incisive dash and short ball released Chris Hankinson to crash over from close range. Leeds briefly believed they had a second try two minutes later when Cooper Jenkins went over under the sticks, but the score was ruled out after Brodie Croft was penalised for a forward pass while attempting to knock the ball backwards.

Saints were reduced to 12 men temporarily following Daniel Suluka-Fifita's off-the-ball hit on Presley Cassell, and an apparent Saints score when Tristan Sailor lofted a pass to Deon Cross was judged forward as Cross dived in at the left corner. Back to 13, Leeds' second-rower Cameron Smith then broke a tackle from Suluka-Fifita and finished a long individual effort to get on the scoresheet.

Connor's slick passing then set up Ash Handley, who fed Harry Newman to score unopposed; Connor converted to stretch Leeds into an 18-point half-time lead. The Rhinos finished the night with six tries—Hankinson, Smith, Newman, Hall, Handley and Croft—and Connor kicked five goals.

After the break Tom Holroyd had a try disallowed, knocking on while attempting to ground the ball under pressure from Saints full-back Tristan Sailor, but Leeds soon made it four when Jack Bird's backhanded offload released Ryan Hall for his 357th career try. Saints responded when Jack Welsby broke the line and raced clear to score, but Handley finished off a grubber from Connor and Croft followed a later grubber for his 28th Super League try of the season; Connor missed a late penalty, striking the post.

Leeds Rhinos coach Brad Arthur told BBC Radio Leeds: "I thought both our starts to the first half and the second half were pretty good. We did it with a good control. "We had to stay composed and that was a good test for us. We had players all over the shop the last 15 minutes but they still had a pride in their defence which has been a bit questionable at times this season. "If we can withstand the pressure for three, four sets, which we're going to have to do against Wigan next week, it can take a bit of confidence out of your opposition. "We're up against a really good team who have been at the top of their game for a long, long time. So we're excited, we've done the work, now we've got to be confident."

St Helens: Sailor; Douglas, MacDonald, Welsby, Cross; Robertson, Lomax; Suluka-Fifita, Shorrocks, Klemmer, Davies, Wright, Host. Interchanges: Walmsley, Humphreys, Keeley, Evans.

Leeds: Miller; Hall, Bird, Handley, Newman; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, O'Connor, Jenkins, Watkins, Hankinson, Cassell. Interchanges: Holroyd, Smith, Levi, Lodge.

Leeds will host Wigan next Saturday in a direct League Leaders' Shield decider, while St Helens must beat Leigh and Hull KR in their remaining two fixtures if they are to avoid missing the Super League play-offs for the first time.