SAINTS KICK OFF 2024 WITH VICTORY OVER LONDON

St Helens have began the 2024 Betfred Super League season with a 40-4 victory over London Broncos at the Totally Wicked Stadium!

Saints forced a dropout four minutes in. A penalty pushed Saints into London territory, Daryl Clark’s low kick on the last saw the visitors trapped in-goal.

The repeat set saw Saints grab their first points of the season. James Bell collected a short pass from Alex Walmsley and broke though the Broncos line, he found Lewis Dodd supporting on his outside and he strolled over under the sticks. Mark Percival converted, 6-0.

Two minutes later, Saints had another. From the kick off, Saints marched downfield and towards the end of the set, Bell threw a short pass left, which Matt Whitley tipped on to Jack Welsby, and with no defenders ahead of him he raced away to increase our lead. Percival missed the conversion attempt, 10-0.

London tried to hit back. A 40/20 gave them great field position, that was followed by a goal-line dropout, as Welsby was forced to clear the ball into touch after a low kick. Saints got the ball back from the restart though, as the visitors dropped the ball.

Saints had try number three 24 minutes in. Daryl Clark went for a run from dummy half, breaking numerous tackles, before finding Walmsley supporting on his inside. to dive over from close range. Percival added the extras, 16-0.

With four minutes of the first 40 to go, Saints had their fourth try. The Red V shifted it from left to right in London territory, Jonny Lomax throwing the cut-out pass to Tommy Makinson, who strolled over in the corner. Percival missed the kick, 20-0.

London looked to have gone over three minutes into the second half. Jack Campangolo’s low kick was kicked on again by Lee Kershaw, Robbie Storey won the race to the loose ball and scored in the corner. The on-field decision of try confirmed after a video referee review. Campagnolo missed the kick, 20-4.

The video referee was called into action again five minutes later. Saints applied the pressure and Clark had another run from dummy half, this time spinning over under the sticks. The video referee confirming the on-field decision of try soon after. Percival converted, 26-4.

London attempted to threaten another try. Iliess Marcani broke away down their left wing and tried to kick inside for some of his supporting players, however Welsby cleared the kick up and broke the other way. Another chance soon followed, but a kick near the Saints line on the last went dead in-goal, gifting the hosts a seven-tackle set.

With 67 minutes on the clock, Saints had try number six. Dodd was stopped close to the Broncos line, the following play it went left Clark found Welsby, who found debutant Whitley who breezed through a gap and dove over to score. Makinson converted, 32-4.

From the kick off, Saints had another. A few tackles in the ball ended up on the right edge, Konrad Hurrell broke through a tiring London line and found Lomax supporting on his inside to stroll over. Makinson’s kick hit the post and bounced out, 36-4.

With less than five minutes to go, Saints had their eighth try. Welsby teased the London defence before finding Whitley again, who broke a tackle and dove over the line from close range. Makinson missed the kick, 40-4.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Waqa Blake, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Matt Whitley, Curtis Sironen, James Bell.

Interchanges: Sione Mata’utia, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney, Ben Davies.

18th Man: Jon Bennison.

Tries: Lewis Dodd (6), Jack Welsby (8), Alex Walmsley (24), Tommy Makinson (36), Daryl Clark (48), Matt Whitley (67, 76), Jonny Lomax (69)

Conversions: Mark Percival (3 from 5), Tommy Makinson (1 from 3)

London Broncos Team: Oli Leyland, Lee Kershaw, Robbie Storey, Hakim Miloudi, Iliess Marcani, Jack Campagnolo, James Meadows, Rob Butler, Sam Davis, Rhys Kennedy, Will Lovell, Sadiq Adebiyi, Dean Parata.

Interchanges: Marcus Stock, Jordan Williams, Emmanuel Waine, Matt Davies.

18th Man: Dan Hoyes.

Tries: Robbie Storey (43)

Conversions: Jack Campagnolo (0 from 1)

HT: 20-0

FT: 40-4

Attendance: 14,058

Take a look at your FREE Matchday Programme, click the image below!

Exclusively in our Round 1 edition of Saints & Proud:

• Chairman Eamonn McManus pens his first column of the year
• The BIG READ with our new #9 Daryl Clark
• A Q&A with Jodie Cunningham on her new role
• Match reports from our Pre-Season Friendlies
• An extended interview with Mark Percival on his contract extension
• Plus all the key Saints news you need to know!

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
2 Tommy Makinson
23 Konrad Hurrell
4 Mark Percival
3 Waqa Blake
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Lewis Dodd
8 Alex Walmsley
9 Daryl Clark
10 Matty Lees
19 Matt Whitley
16 Curtis Sironen
15 James Bell
11 Sione Mata’utia
18 Jake Wingfield
20 George Delaney
21 Ben Davies

London Broncos Line up

20Oliver Leyland
2Lee Kershaw
21Robbie Storey
4Hakim Miloudi
5Iliess Macani
6Jack Campagnolo
7James Meadows
8Rob Butler
9Sam Davis
19Rhys Kennedy
11Will Lovell
17Sadiq Adebiyi
13Dean Parata
15Marcus Stock
16Jordan Williams
18Emmanuel Waine
24Matthew Davies

Last updated 16 Feb 24 23:20:28

Try number ☝️ for Daryl Clark in the Red V! 🤩

#COYS

FT

Back to @SuperLeague business with a bang! 💥

The Saints start the new season with a win over London Broncos!

#COYS

77'

Kick missed by Makinson.

😇 40-4 🐎

76'
Try
Matt Whitley for Saints

You wait so many years to score for your boyhood club and you get two in quick succession!

WHITLEY AGAIN!

Another great late pass from Super Jack opens London’s defence!

😇 40-4 🐎

75'

Good cover defence from the Red V after some erratic play by London, they almost scored on the right but they’re stopped.

😇 36-4 🐎

73'

🔄 Clark comes off, Wingfield returns.

😇 36-4 🐎

71'

Makinson’s kick comes off the post!

70'
Try
Jonny Lomax for Saints

QUICKFIRE BACK-TO-BACK!

The right edge make space and Hurrell sprints and fires back inside to the skipper!

J-Lo! 😍

😇 36-4 🐎

69'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Tommy Makinson now on kicking duties and he adds it from wide out!

😇 32-4 🐎

67'
Try
Matt Whitley for Saints

WHITLEYYY!

A debut meat pie for the Billinge-born back-rower!

A late pass from Welsby opens a gap for him to go over and the lifelong Saints fan scores in front of a jubilant West Stand! 👏

😇 30-4 🐎

67'

A break in play due to a Kershaw staying down on the wing, he needs to come off the field.

Butler comes on.

😇 26-4 🐎

64'

Saints get a penalty after London hold down at the tackle, Dodd’s kick is tapped back in by Kershaw but Davies races there to get it back!

😇 26-4 🐎

Try number ☝️ for Daryl Clark in the Red V! 🤩

#COYS

62'

62′: 🔄 Percival and Wingfield now off, Davies and Walmsley come on.

Great shift in the middle by Wingy.

😇 26-4 🐎

54'

🔄 Bell on, Mata’utia off.

😇 26-4 🐎

52'

Both sides trade errors, Saints give away a penalty but London can’t make it pay with an incorrect play of the ball.

😇 26-4 🐎

50'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints

🦵 Easy two added by The Prince!

😇 26-4 🐎

49'
Try
Daryl Clark for Saints

DARYL CLARK! Our new #9 grabs a classic hooker’s try, picking the ball up from dummy half and pinching one with a number of Broncos around him trying to stop it, but he grounds it in front of the West Stand!

😇 24-4 🐎

46'

Saints go close! Delaney strips the ball to win it back 20m away from the line.

We then shape up on the right but a Bronco goes for an intercept but knocks on.

😇 20-4 🐎

45'

Kick missed from the wing.

😇 20-4 🐎

44'
Try
Robbie Storey for London Broncos

London score their first points, a kick goes close to the right wing, Kershaw kicks it back into the field of play just before it runs out and Robbie Storey picks it up to score in the corner.

A video ref check con

40'

Back to it.

😇 20-0 🐎

⏭ Next up at home: The Leopards

Get your tickets online!

😄 All smiles on Season Opening night!

@plattyphoto

HT

⏸ The Saints’ first forty of the 2024 season see us put 20 points on London.

#COYS

38'

Kick is just wide of the post, 20-0 it stays.

37'
Try
Tommy Makinson for Saints

™ T-MAK TRY TIME!

The Saints move up the field well and Lomax finds a hit-out pass to Makinson 20m out and he hits the accelerator to go in at the corner!

😇 20-0 🐎

33'

London get a penalty 30m out and shape up on the left but the final pass is no good.

🔄 Mata’utia on, Bell off.

30'

🔄 Wingfield on, Walmsley off.

London push for their opening points but Miloudi on the run knocks on 20m out.

25'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints

Percival adds his second kick of the game!

😇 16-0 🐎

Lewis Dodd grabs our first Betfred Super League try of the 24 season 👊

😎 Yes Doddy!

#COYS | @plattyphoto

24'
Try
Alex Walmsley for Saints

OH THAT WAS LOVELY! Daryl Clark with a quick play of the ball goes around the ruck and blind passes to Big Al!

😇 14-0 🐎

23'

🔄 Lees off, Delaney on.

😇 10-0 🐎

22'

London come close but good cover defence from Percival stops them. The visitors try some offloads but Hurrell intercepts to stop them for now.

😇 10-0 🐎

20'

Sironen carries well by the right wing and as he plays the ball he looks to be going down, an incorrect play of the ball is given and London will attack.

18'

Bell whilst being tackled fires out a big offload to Clark, Daryl then is trying one himself to Welsby but the referee judges it forward (we think – might be wrong there) and London have the scrum 40m off their line.

16'

Solid defence against London forces the ball out and stops the threat.

15'

London get another go, a smart short kick near the line edges past Lomax and Welsby puts a HUGE boot in to clear it for a GLDO.

😇 10-0 🐎

14'

Pressure on the Saints now, a 40/20 gets the visitors out of danger and their first real attack of the game.

13'

Better defence from the Broncos, good shots on Lomax and Percival calm our attack. On the last Dodd places a high bomb which London take well but Welsby is there with a good hit straight away!

10'

Kick missed from far out on the left.

10'

Kick missed from far out on the left.

8'
Try
Jack Welsby for Saints

SUPER JACK! 🦸‍♂️

London rue a penalty which allows Saints to attack, some offloads get it to Jack Welsby and he races over on the left edge!

😇 10-0 🐎

7'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints

✌ Percival adds his first two points of the year!

😇 6-0 🐎

5'
Try
Lewis Dodd for Saints

GREAT START! James Bell off a short late pass from Walmsley goes into space and he feeds Lewis Dodd who supports with a great run to go under the sticks!

😇 4-0 🐎

4'

Calm first big attack from Saints on the back of a penalty, on the last a dribbling kick has to be taken out for a GLDO.

😇 0-0 🐎

Kick Off

▶ KICK-OFF! Our Super League season is underway!

☺ Our non-playing Saints are out and about around the ground handing our 2024 Team Posters!

☺ Our non-playing Saints are out and about around the ground handing our 2024 Team Posters!

🔻 For the first time this season we’re in the 24 Home Kit, and it is a *beauty*

You can get yours online and in the Saints Superstore 🛍

The boss also declared he knows that the Saints faithful will be loud and vocal as we FINALLY return to competitive match action!

Paul Wellens has issued his gameday update and he is delighted to hand three Saints their debuts tonight!

He is also well aware of how dangerous London will be as the newly promoted side.

Hello there, Daryl 👋

Turning left instead of right down the tunnel!

😇 Here’s your Saints lineup for the Season Opener against London Broncos!

Blake, Clark, and Whitley all start for their debuts

#COYS

🤝 📸 In the West Stand tonight there will be members of the First Team hosting a Meet & Greet!

Go and say hello and meet some of our Saints!

Our #24PolaroidGiveway will start tonight at the Totally Wicked Stadium 🎞️

If you are one of the lucky winners, don’t forget to let us know 😇

🌍 Tonight as the teams run out to begin Super League 2024, there will be flags on the field representing each nationality of all our players and coaching staff!

📰 Your first edition of 𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗦 & 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗗 in 2024 has landed!

🔴 BIG READ with Daryl Clark
⚪ Extended feature w/ Mark Percival
🔴 Exclusive Chairman & Head Coach columns
⚪ Plus so much more…

Read now!

🔻 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗬

🆚 London Broncos
📌 Totally Wicked Stadium
🕗 8pm KO
🎟️ Available online
📺 Sky Sports / SuperLeague+
ℹ Guide & Preview on Saints’ website