Saints claim record four in a row with Rhinos victory!

St.Helens R.F.C. are the Betfred Super League champions for a fourth year in a row, after beating Leeds Rhinos 24-12 at Old Trafford on Saturday evening!

We are the first Club in Super League history to achieve that success.

Saints came out of the traps flying and took a third minute lead in the Grand Final. We were awarded a penalty after former Saint James Bentley was penalised for a high shot on Mark Percival. Off the back of that, Jonny Lomax darted through a gap and put Matty Lees in to score to the left of the sticks. Tommy Makinson converted, 6-0.

A second try came 15 minutes later. After a penalty allowed Saints to kick the ball downfield, we worked it left and Jack Welsby’s kick was grounded by Jon Bennison to score in the corner. After a video referee review the try was awarded. Makinson converted from the left touchline, 12-0.

With just over ten minutes to go until the break, Makinson had the chance to increase our lead with a penalty just to the right of the sticks. His kick went wide to the left though, so Saints’ lead only remained a two-score one at 12-0.

The visitors responded in the final minute of the first half. After making a rare break into Saints territory they worked the ball left and Rhyse Martin just about got it away before going into touch, the ball found its way inside to Kruise Leeming who span over from close range to score. The try was awarded after a video referee review. Martin took the final kick of the half and converted to make it 12-6 at the break, meaning despite all of Saints’ dominance, it was only a one-score game.

Just as they had done in the first half, Saints dominated the opening stages of the second and got their reward. After earning a ‘six again’ on the Leeds line and using a few tackles Saints laid the ball off for former Rhino Konrad Hurrell to powerfully run onto the ball and he stretched over to score, the try being awarded after a trip to the video referee. Makinson added the two, 18-6.

A fourth Saints score followed. After keeping the Rhinos out whilst being camped on their own line for several minutes, Saints moved up the other end. After another ‘six again’ call, on the last  Welsby put a fine grubber kick through and Percival won the race to the loose ball to touch it down in exactly the same fashion as he did for our first of the four Grand Final’s back in 2019. The decision went upstairs but once again it was awarded. Makinson converted the try from under the sticks, 24-6 Saints led.

Leeds went over with just under 15 minutes to go as they threw the ball about and it ended up in Martin’s arms, he then crashed over from close range but some great Saints defence somehow held the Rhino up short, 24-6 Saints still led. Leeds continued to pile on the pressure as Percival was forced to concede a goal-line dropout to prevent a second Leeds try.

The Rhinos did grab their second try with just under ten minutes to go. A move down their right edge saw Martin find Tom Briscoe on the wing, he then passed back to Martin on his inside to dive over. Martin converted his own try, 24-12.

As the clock ran down, Saints went for a one-pointer as Harry Sunderland Winner Lomax tried his luck from 20 metres out, but his effort bounded out off the post and out of play. That was to be the final action of the game, as Saints were once again crowned champions – for the fourth time in a row – after beating Leeds Rhinos 24-12 at Old Trafford in Kristian Woolf’s final game in charge!

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jon Bennison, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Will Hopoate, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Agnatius Paasi, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Sione Mata’utia, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jake Wingfield.

Tries: Matty Lees (3), Jon Bennison (18), Konrad Hurrell (43), Mark Percival (58)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (4 from 4)

Penalties: Tommy Makinson (0 from 1)

Leeds Rhinos Team: Richie Myler, Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Liam Sutcliffe, Ash Handley, Blake Austin, Cameron Smith, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Matt Prior, Rhyse Martin, James Bentley, Zane Tetevano.

Interchanges: Bodene Thompson, Kruise Leeming, Sam Walters, James Donaldson.

Tries: Kruise Leeming (40), Rhyse Martin (71)

Conversions: Rhyse Martin (2 from 2)

HT: 12-6

FT: 24-12

Attendance: 60,783

Saints Line up

5 Jonathan Bennison
2 Tommy Makinson
23 Konrad Hurrell
4 Mark Percival
3 Will Hopoate
1 Jack Welsby
6 Jonny Lomax
17 Agnatius Paasi
James Roby
10 Matty Lees
12 Joe Batchelor
16 Curtis Sironen
13 Morgan Knowles
11 Sione Mata’utia
14 Joey Lussick
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
18 Jake Wingfield

Leeds Rhinos Line up

1Richie Myler
2Tom Briscoe
3Zak Hardaker
4Liam Sutcliffe
5Ash Handley
6Cameron Smith
7Blake Austin
8Mikołaj Olędzki
9Jarred O'Connor
10Matt Prior
11James Bentley
12Rhyse Martin
13Zane Tetevano
14Kruise Leeming
15James Donaldson
16Sam Walters
17Bodene Thompson

Last updated 24 Sep 22 22:23:23

𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞! 🏆🏆🏆🏆

We become the first Club in Super League history to win four Grand Finals in a row! 💯

#COYS

𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞! 🏆🏆🏆🏆

We become the first Club in Super League history to win four Grand Finals in a row! 💯

#COYS

80'

FT: 🔴⚪️ Saints 24-12 Rhinos 🦏

𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐑𝐒!!!!!

#COYS

79'

Lomax goes for the drop goal, but it strikes the post…

🔴⚪️ Saints 24-12 Rhinos 🦏

77'

Saints force Leeds into the knock on coming out of their own half!!

🔴⚪️ Saints 24-12 Rhinos 🦏

74'

Leeds think they are in again, but it’s pulled back for a forward pass.

🔴⚪️ Saints 24-12 Rhinos 🦏

72'
Goal
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Martin converts his own try.

🔴⚪️ Saints 24-12 Rhinos 🦏

72'
Try
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Martin goes over for Leeds.

🔴⚪️ Saints 24-10 Rhinos 🦏

69'

Leeds push forward as Handley kicks through, but Percival is there to kick the ball dead.

🔴⚪️ Saints 24-6 Rhinos 🦏

66'

Martin goes for the line at speed, but Hopoate is there to save a certain try!!!

🔴⚪️ Saints 24-6 Rhinos 🦏

61'

The Rhinos push forward, but as has been for most of this season, Saints are solid in defence!

🔴⚪️ Saints 24-6 Rhinos 🦏

59'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson slots over the two from right in front!

🔴⚪️ Saints 24-6 Rhinos 🦏

58'
Try
Mark Percival for Saints

PERCYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! Welsby with the grubber, Percival with the TRY!!!!!!

🔴⚪️ Saints 22-6 Rhinos 🦏

57'

Saints win a set restart and we will come again on the Rhinos line!

🔴⚪️ Saints 18-6 Rhinos 🦏

56'

Koni enjoyed that one!

🔴⚪️ Saints 18-6 Rhinos 🦏

53'

Great defence from Saints and Hurrell forces Sutcliffe to knock on!

🔴⚪️ Saints 18-6 Rhinos 🦏

52'

Another penalty for offside. Defending to be done again…

🔴⚪️ Saints 18-6 Rhinos 🦏

51'

Martin makes a break for the Rhinos into the Saints half before Bentley wins a penalty for offside. Matty Lees is off for a HIA and Morgan Knowles is back on.

🔴⚪️ Saints 18-6 Rhinos 🦏

57'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson adds the two and we are back to a two score lead!

🔴⚪️ Saints 18-6 Rhinos 🦏

46'
Try
Konrad Hurrell for Saints

KONIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!! Against his former Club, Koni somehow frees his hands from four Rhinos players to get the ball down!!!

🔴⚪️ Saints 16-6 Rhinos 🦏

45'

We move the ball on the last and it comes off Briscoe and we get the scrum in the Rhinos half…

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-6 Rhinos 🦏

43'

Makinson wins a penalty for a high shot. Lomax kicks for touch and we have a set in the Rhinos half!

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-6 Rhinos 🦏

41'

Here we go! We are back underway! 40 minutes to decide the 2022 #GrandFinal!

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-6 Rhinos 🦏

40'

HT: 🔴⚪️ Saints 12-6 Rhinos 🦏

We take a narrow lead into the break!

#COYS

39'
Goal
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Martin kicks the two as the hooter sounds.

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-6 Rhinos 🦏

39'
Try
Kruise Leeming for Leeds Rhinos

Leeming goes over after a break from Hardaker.

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-4 Rhinos 🦏

39'

AGAIN OUR DEFENCE COMES GOOD! Saints see out the set on our line! One to go until the break…

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

38'

Another penalty for Leeds in our half. See it out, lads!

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

36'

BRILLIANT DEFENCE from Saints who throw bodies in the way on our right side to keep Leeds at bay!

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

35'

Leeds win a penalty in the Saints half. Can we see the half out?

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

33'

Bennison with our second try of the evening!

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

30'

Makinson drags his kick wide before Sironen catches a Leeds man high.

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

28'

Martin and Welsby come together off the ball following a tackle by the Leeds man on Lomax. Saints win the penalty for a tip tackle and Makinson will go for the two…

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

26'

HURRELL! The former Leeds man goes for the line in front of the Rhinos fans, but he is dragged into touch inches before the try-line!

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

24'

Leeds try to run it on the last, but Briscoe is trapped and ends up kicking the ball dead.

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

23'

LMS is on for Paasi as Leeds get the ball back and he is straight involved as he catches the Rhinos player high and they get a penalty.

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

21'

Great defence from Saints forces the goal-line drop out! We come again….

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

19'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson NAILS the touchline conversion!

🔴⚪️ Saints 12-0 Rhinos 🦏

18'
Try
Jonathan Bennison for Saints

BENNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! We move the ball to the left and Welsby’s perfectly weighted grubber is touched down by Bennison and it’s a Grand Final try for the young man!!

🔴⚪️ Saints 10-0 Rhinos 🦏

17'

Rhyse Martin knocks on when trying to grasp a short ball before Saints win a penalty as the Rhinos are caught offside.

🔴⚪️ Saints 6-0 Rhinos 🦏

16'

Blake Austin kicks a 40-20 for Leeds. Time to defend, boys!

🔴⚪️ Saints 6-0 Rhinos 🦏

Matty Lees bursts through for the opener!

12'

Both sides are trapped on the last as Lomax looks to dart through again and grab our second. He has started this game on 🔥

🔴⚪️ Saints 6-0 Rhinos 🦏

9'

Leeds get the ball back and come forward again, but Zane Tetevano knocks on after a challenge from the skipper.

🔴⚪️ Saints 6-0 Rhinos 🦏

7'

Saints are penalised for offside. Tom Briscoe hasn’t heard the referee’s whistle and thinks he has raced clear, but it’s a penalty to Leeds who kick for touch.

🔴⚪️ Saints 6-0 Rhinos 🦏

5'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson adds the two from right in front and it’s the perfect start for the Saints!

🔴⚪️ Saints 6-0 Rhinos 🦏

3'
Try
Matty Lees for Saints

WHAT A START!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jonny Lomax bursts through a gap in the Rhinos defence and feeds the supporting Matty Lees who goes over in front of the Rhinos fans! GET IN!

🔴⚪️ Saints 4-0 Rhinos 🦏

2'

Saints win an early penalty after a high shot from former Saint James Bentley. An early chance here…

🔴⚪️ Saints 0-0 Rhinos 🦏

1'

Can we make history? Let’s GO! 🔴⚪️

Kick off is next!

Not long now….

We ready for the BIG dance!!

🔴⚪️

A sea of 🔴 & ⚪️

#COYS

Catch a word from the boss ahead of his final game in charge…Head over to our social media accounts to hear from him now!

And this is how Leeds line up…

🔴⚪ 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒! 🔴⚪

Your Saints line-up aiming to make 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆! 🔐

#COYS

Here come the Saints! 🔴⚪️

#COYS

Team news will be with you around 4:30…

Our bench!

😍

Behind the scenes… 👀

📍 Old Trafford! 😍

The players’ shirts will have this embroidery on tonight…Will it be a shirt to frame and remember?

The Saints fans are out in force!

The Old Trafford Grand Final stage is set!

We can’t wait to see you all at Old Trafford!

Liam Moore is tonight’s referee. Ben Thaler will be the video referee.

The lads will be walking out in these zip tops this evening! You can grab yours from the Saints Superstore or online!

Today will be the last game in charge for our Head Coach Kristian Woolf! Let’s send him home in style!

Joe Batchelor and James Roby were at Old Trafford on media duties earlier this week! Hear from them both on Saints TV now…

Morgan Knowles is free to play tonight and this is a reminder of our 21 man squad! Team news will be with you at 4:30pm!

Ensure you read our match preview for all the information you need ahead of today’s big game! Head over to our news section to read it!

It’s Grand Final Gameday! Saints can make History and win four in a row with a victory against Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford! Kick off is 6pm and we will have all updates for you here!