Last night, Champions St Helens put the rest of the league well and truly on notice with a thumping win over Leeds. Saints dominated the first half scoring almost a point per minute in the opening quarter as they came up with their best performance of the season. That was my take anyway. What was yours? How did social media react to last night’s rugby?
One of the reasons behind St Helens’ win was Alex Walmsley. The powerful prop singlehandedly devastated the Leeds defence again and again with marauding surges through the Rhinos defence. To many he was easily the Man of the Match.
Hahahahaha genius https://t.co/U6ngqrm0Yf
— RedVee.Net (@RedVeeDotNet) September 10, 2021
Not many teams would have had a chance with Alex Walmsley rampaging through the middle like he did
— Christine (@duxells) September 11, 2021
If I was a Super League coach, I would be having absolute horrors about Alex Walmsley. I mean, what do you DO about him?
— Viva Gaz Vegas (@VivaGazW) September 11, 2021
One Leeds supporter identified one troubling statistic about Walmsley’s performance.
Meters vs Saints:
Handley – 183m, 25 carries, 7TB.
Broadbent – 111m, 10 carries, 7TB.
Smith – 87m, 15 carries, 2TB.
T. Briscoe – 83m, 16 carries, 3TB.
Alex Walmsley made more meters than our entire starting pack combined.
— Steven Hodgson 💙💛 (@86Hodgson) September 11, 2021
Walmsley wasn’t the only star player for St Helens last night, however. Regan Grace again impressed.
Regan Grace is so good it pisses me off
— Max🐢 (@MaxHeaton5) September 10, 2021
Class that Regan Grace 👀👀
— Karl Bradley (@Manface_5000) September 10, 2021
On the other side of the fence, Leeds fans were divided by the defeat. Some felt it was to be expected with the number of players missing.
It's one thing to get hamnered by a crap team – another to get beaten by the best. Our team is so depleted no one can be surprised at the result? Next season, with everyone fit & well, we will be a different proposition. Like you say, invaluable experience for the youngsters.
— Ginny (@ginnyharteryb) September 10, 2021
Others hoped Leeds would fail to make the top six. They fear they’ll only get battered again.
Hopefully we don't make the six, only embarrass ourselves if we do
— GiptonRhino (@GiptonRhino) September 10, 2021
Others simply wanted to forget the defeat and move on.
An absolute mare. Forget it and move on. One more to go, must win.
— LR-RLFC Fans 🏆 💙💛 (@RhinosFaithful) September 10, 2021
That may be the philosophy of the Rhinos themselves. Now they have to beat Hull KR next week to give themselves the best possible chance of making the play-offs.
Yes pretty much https://t.co/h1oKoU46wm
— Loiners View (@loinersview) September 10, 2021