Saints were beaten 24-16 by Leeds Rhinos at AMT Headingley Stadium in a clash of two of the top three in the Betfred Super League.
First Half
Leeds had the first opportunity for points three minutes in. Curtis Sironen caught Brodie Croft late and the hosts had a penalty in front our our sticks. They opted for two points which Jake Connor converted, 2-0 the Rhinos led.
Saints responded well. A penalty for offside pushed us into the Leeds half. A few tackles in, Daryl Clark peeked through a gap down the middle inside the Leeds twenty and found Alex Walmsley in support on his outside and he scored from close range. Tristan Sailor added the conversion, 2-6.
St Helens take the lead! 💥 pic.twitter.com/JzYg0SrxdI
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) June 4, 2026
The hosts tried to respond. Maika Sivo broke down the left wing but was tackled well by Harry Robertson. The following tackle, on the last, Ash Handley tried to power his way over from close range but Saints held him up over the try-line to force the turnover.
We had our first trip to the video referee 23 minutes in. Leeds moved the ball through the hands from right to left, which ended with Sivo stumbling over under pressure in the corner. The try wasn’t given but the Rhinos were awarded a penalty after Kyle Feldt was judged to have taken Handley out off the ball, despite Chris Hankinson obstructing Jonny Lomax first.
After several repeat sets on our line, Leeds had their first try 26 minutes in. They moved it left from under the sticks, Jake Connor found Chris Hankinson who ran back inside from the left edge to score. Connor added the conversion to give the Rhinos the lead, 8-6.
Minutes later, Saints retook the lead. A penalty for a high shot on Feldt pushed Saints into Leeds territory. A few tackles in, we moved the ball right, Joe Shorrocks found George Whitby, he moved the ball onto Jonny Lomax and he threw a cut-out pass to Feldt on the wing who backed himself and powered over in the corner. Sailor added the conversion from the touchline, 8-12.
“If you give it, you’ve got to take it” 👀
A bit of karma for Jake Connor as St Helens quickly re-take the lead. pic.twitter.com/Uf2pYTBKs4
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) June 4, 2026
Saints pressed for more points. A chipped kick from Jack Welsby was fumbled twice by Leeds, giving the Red V a full set inside the Rhinos ten. The visitors opted for an early kick in the set, with Welsby forcing Fergus McCormack to concede a dropout.
More sets followed, but Saints did have a third try in the final minute of the first half. Again we opted for an early kick, this time Welsby putting in a low one down the left edge and Sailor won the race, finishing well under pressure in the corner. He couldn’t convert his own try with the final kick of the half, 8-16 we led at the break.
⏸️ The Saints have the lead at Headingley as we go into the break #COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/ymLJmXPsQc
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) June 4, 2026
Second Half
Saints had the first chance for second half points. A penalty on halfway put the Red V deep into Leeds territory. We used up the full set before George Delaney was held up a metre short of the line on the last tackle.
Five minutes into the half, Leeds had a second try of the game. Saints were forced to concede a dropout after a kick from Connor and the hosts scored in that set on the last tackle, as Brodie Croft fired a cut-out pass to Harry Newman who scored from close range. Connor converted, 14-16.
Saints kicked the restart out on the full, in that set Delaney was deemed to have caught Kallum Watkins high and the hosts opted for two points. Connor converted to level the game at 16-16.
A Saints error from a high kick gifted Leeds possession deep inside our own half. From the scrum, the Rhinos went left but Handley fumbled the ball under pressure from the visitors.
With less than eight minutes to go, Leeds had a penalty for a late shot by David Klemmer. The Saints forward saw a yellow card for the incident. The hosts opted for two points which Connor converted, 18-16 they led.
Four minutes later, the Rhinos had a try. The hosts were awarded a penalty as Daryl Clark supposedly caught Keenan Palasia low. They shifted the ball from right to left and Sivo scored in the corner. Connor converted, 24-16.
Cameron Smith saw yellow in the final minute for slowing down the ruck as Saints looked to get back into it. Saints were unable to crack the Rhinos defence though, 24-16 the final score at AMT Headingley Stadium.
⏹️ Full time in Round 13 at Headingley, the hosts take the win.#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/BpVDj25KPB
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) June 4, 2026
Match Summary
Leeds Rhinos Team: Fergus McCormack, Ryan Hall, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Maika Sivo, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Cooper Jenkins, Chris Hankinson, James McDonnell, Kallum Watkins.
Interchanges: Keenan Palasia, Cameron Smith, Presley Cassell, Danny Levi.
18th Man: Tom Nicholson-Watton.
Tries: Chris Hankinson (26), Harry Newman (46), Maika Sivo (77)
Conversions: Jake Connor (3 from 3)
Penalties: Jake Connor (3 from 3)
Sin Bin: Cameron Smith (80)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Mark Percival, Owen Dagnall, Jonny Lomax, George Whitby, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, David Klemmer, Curtis Sironen, Matt Whitley, Joe Shorrocks.
Interchanges: Shane Wright, George Delaney, Jake Davies, Tom Humphreys.
18th Man: Alfie Sinclair.
Tries: Alex Walmsley (8), Kyle Feldt (31), Tristan Sailor (40)
Conversions: Tristan Sailor (2 from 2)
Sin Bin: David Klemmer (73)
HT: 8-16
FT: 24-16
Attendance: 13,452
