For the second week in a row, two of Super League’s biggest clubs battled in a huge fixture as Leeds Rhinos hosted fierce rivals St Helens at the recently renamed AMT Headingley Stadium.
The week prior, Leeds started like a house on fire against the Saints and should have been more than 8-0 up after the half an hour mark and were made to pay the price for their inability to turn their blistering start into points.
Tries from Waqa Blake, Jon Bennison and finally Moses Mbye gave the Saints the win and Mbye would be given a huge responsibility ahead of the rematch in the Betfred Challenge Cup with the replacement hooker drafted into halfback to replace the absent Lewis Dodd.
As for Leeds they welcomed back star signing Paul Momirovski but he started on the wing as try scorer last week Lewis Roberts dropped to the bench alongside the returning Sam Lisone.
Last week it was Leeds who made the blistering start but this time it was St Helens and Leeds couldn’t hang with them in the first ten minutes and eventually the Saints had their reward with Jonny Lomax nailing a penalty to take the lead after a two on one strip. Then after an Andy Ackers tip tackle Lomax would extend the lead to 4-0.
Saints were well on top for the for the first 25 minutes but as they probed down field Harry Newman intercepted and went the length to score. However, just before the break, last week, Daryl Clark fired Saints ahead with a try.
In the second half, Saints stood up to some pressure on their own line but eventually struck first in the second stanza when a ricocheted kick came back for the Saints and Jon Bennison was put in at the corner.
They sealed the win with a try from Alex Walmsley after a kick again ricocheted. That made it 20-6 and it would stay that way as the Saints progress to the last eight.
Kevin Brown has his say on official after Leeds Rhinos clash
Credit Imago Images
There were some big decisions in the game to be made by referee Chris Kendall including the decision to sin bin both Tom Holroyd and Daryl Clark.
Speaking on BBC, Super League legend Kevin Brown said of the incident: “Well Welsby evened up the scores but I don’t think there was anything wrong with it. Tom Holroyd clearly did and then Daryl Clark comes and throws Holroyd straight into the advertising boards.
“The referee’s got to digest this and see what he’s going to do, I think it will be ‘calm down and carry on’.
“I think Welsby’s committed, I think he was timing it and I think Holroyd has misread that but Daryl Clark can’t do that either. If Daryl Clark doesn’t go, I think he’s been very lucky.”
After Kendall elected to sin bin both, Brown praised the referee: “I’ve got to say I think that’s probably the right decision, I think he’s had a great game Chris Kendall tonight. I think that was the right decision. There was nothing in that tackle for me. I think he timed it perfectly well there, Jack Welsby.
“Yeah, it would have hurt Bentley but Holroyd can’t come in and do that, and then Daryl Clark obviously can’t come in and do the same.”
This was a night when Kendall received some heavy criticism from Leeds fans. Often officials get criticised so it is great to see Kevin Brown praise the official here.
Anonymous
March 23, 2024 at 3:08 pm
Kendal had an awful game. The sin bins were the only decision he did get right.
Andy Booth
March 24, 2024 at 8:44 am
Having watched the Eels v Sea Eagles game you could cry for what they are doing to RL here in the UK. A British ref in that game would have given 30 penalties and sin-binned half a dozen players. The aggression is being removed and let’s face it that was the primary skill in the UK game. I fear even more what the Aussies/NZ would do to us now.