Leigh Leopards hosted St Helens with both sides knowing that a win would guarantee them a spot in the Super League play-offs.
It was to be Leigh’s night as they won 18-12 in a brilliant performance that was inspired by their captain John Asiata.
Saints were all but certain to be in the top six anyway, barring a 150-plus point turnaround but a win would earn them a home semi-final. As for Leigh, they would have been in need of big favours elsewhere if they failed to win.
Hooker Edwin Ipape returned in a major boost for Adrian Lam’s side but St Helens saw several stars return last week meaning that they were close to full strength barring prop Alex Walmsley.
Moses Mbye returned from his one-match ban to start at number nine but was injured in the warm-up meaning Jake Burns started at nine with Daryl Clark appearing on the bench whilst Sione Mata’utia retained his position in the centres at the expense of Waqa Blake.
St Helens see home play-off clash slip through their fingers
Credit: Paul Currie/SWpix.com
St Helens thought that they had got the scoring underway through Tommy Makinson but Sione Mata’utia was controversially deemed to obstruct Lachlan Lam with the call by video referee Ben Thaler being met with rapturous applause in the Leigh Sports Village.
After a Jack Welsby error, Leigh earned some brilliant field position and they capitalised through departing captain John Asiata who darted through the line and reached over to open the scoring after 20 minutes.
A very physical first half saw Leigh double their lead in the 38th minute when a moment of Matt Moylan brilliance carved the St Helens’ right edge open allowing the full-back to tee up Ricky Leutele, another of the departing Leigh stars.
Josh Charnley then made a brilliant break on the left edge but his offload inside to Matt Moylan was dropped with the Australian bombing the try metres from the line. That could have put Leigh out of sight but the game would turn on its head minutes later when Ricky Leutele was sent to the sin bin for a shot on Jack Welsby.
St Helens made the most of the man advantage and they scored on Leutele’s edge with Tommy Makinson scoring one of his best ever for the Red Vee in his last-ever regular season game. The winger showed brilliant body control as he dived in at the corner. Jon Bennison did his job to make it 12-6 heading into the final 20 minutes.
Seconds later, St Helens scored another as Matt Moylan allowed a kick to bounce and it was the men in white shirts who reacted quickest with Lewis Dodd setting up Morgan Knowles to make it 12-12.
Once back to full compliment, Leigh got on the front foot and Josh Charnley scored to make it 16-12 but also draw level with Danny McGuire as joint-second in the all-time Super League try-scoring list.
Matt Moylan would then add a penalty to take it to 18-12 and the Leopards held on to that scoreline for the final few minutes to secure a fifth-place finish. They will travel to face Salford Red Devils whilst St Helens will travel to face Warrington Wolves.
Man of the Match
Credit: Paul Currie/SWpix.com
John Asiata – The Leigh Leopards skipper scored his first try of the Super League season and it was a devastating run. He’s missed a lot of the season but he made up for it plenty tonight as he led his side in talismanic fashion.
Leigh Leopards player ratings
Matt Moylan 7, Darnell McIntosh 7, Umyla Hanley 6, Ricky Leutele 9, Josh Charnley 8, Gaz O’Brien 6, Lachlan Lam 6, Tom Amone 7, Edwin Ipape 8, Robbie Mulhern 7, Kai O’Donnell 7, Frankie Halton 7, John Asiata 9
Interchanges: Brad Dwyer 5, Jack Hughes 6, Aaron Pene 6, Owen Trout 7
St Helens player ratings
Jack Welsby 5, Tommy Makinson 5, Sione Mata’utia 2, Mark Percival 6, Jon Bennison 5, Jonny Lomax 6, Lewis Dodd 4, George Delaney 6, Jake Burns 4, Matty Lees 7, Matt Whitley 6, Joe Batchelor 6, Morgan Knowles 5
Interchanges: Daryl Clark 6, James Bell 5, Agnatius Paasi 5, Noah Stephens 6
.@LeighLeopardsRL secure a vital two points 😤#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/c6RQQ60on7
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 20, 2024
