“One of the best refereeing performances I’ve seen” – How social media reacted to Leeds’ win over St Helens

We might already have a game of the season contender after last night’s clash between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos.

It was the Saints homecoming after winning the World Club Challenge and they led 24-12 but some key decisions then went against them such as no punishment for Sam Walters after a tackle many believed was a shoulder charge.

Then Konrad Hurrell was sent off for contact with the head and a Blake Austin drop goal settled the contest.

It left Australian commentator Andrew Voss dead impressed especially as he pointed out that both the NRL and Super League Champions were beaten this week:

Wow!!! @leedsrhinos 25 @Saints1890 24. Blake Austin fg with 30 secs to go. @konmanhurrell sent off late. @SuperLeague & @NRL champs both beaten by a field goal within 12 hours of each other. All on @FOXNRL The home of the greatest sport on earth. @telegraph_sport @fanfoxleague

— Andrew Voss (@AndrewVossy) March 3, 2023

Leeds legend Keith Senior meanwhile said it was a shame that the game was spoilt by “the decisions at the end.”

It’s a shame that game will be remembered for the last 2 minutes and the decisions at the end!

— Keith Senior 🏉 (@KeithSenior4) March 3, 2023

Meanwhile, former Super League official Richard Silverwood said he felt Sam Walters should have been punished for the shoulder charge.

Some win for Leeds.

Massive call against Saints. Thought it was a shoulder charge.

O'Connor better than Leeming.

— Richard Silverwood (@SilversRef) March 3, 2023

Meanwhile the win had NRL journalist Brad Walter describing Rohan Smith as a future NRL coach not just because of the result but because of the way he dealt with the St Helens fans who came to the touchline to seemingly give him a piece of their mind.

Rohan Smith speaks very well, discussing controversial incidents, brushing aside abuse from Saints fans and paying tribute to St Helens for WCC win, while praising his players. Surely he is a future NRL coach.

— Brad Walter (@BradWalterSport) March 3, 2023

Gareth Walker meanwhile felt it was the perfect advert for the game as “an absolutely gripping contest.”

Club loyalties and contentious decisions aside (and realise that's not how Twitter works), if you're a general sports fan, St Helens-Leeds was an absolutely gripping contest. Something going on in every single one of the 80 minutes. Drama, controversy, skill, commitment, passion

— Gareth Walker (@garethwalker) March 3, 2023

This was echoed by others who said the product is what we need to promote.

So far this week there's been 4 rugby league games on Sky and 3 of them have either been decided in golden point of won with a late drop goal.

The product is there we just need to get the marketing right and grow the game outside it's heartlands.

— Rugby League Beyond The M62 (@LeagueBeyond) March 4, 2023

One fan joked that Sam Walters should have been awarded Man of the Match after it was his suspect tackle that rattled the Saints and likely sparked the boos at the end.

Sam walters should of got man of match for rattling every St Helens fan in the ground especially ones crying and starting on Rohan 😂😭

Massive hit, bring back the shoulder charge

— Ash🧡 (@Ash_Storey4) March 3, 2023

Many fans are questioning these decisions but one said he was pleased with the officiating both last night and on Thursday. They also said that Saints fans were embarrassing themselves.

As a neutral #RugbyLeague fan, I've had absolutely no issues with either refereeing performance in the Sky @SuperLeague games this weekend. Saints fans embarrassing themselves there.

— Gavin Wilson (@GavWilson) March 3, 2023

One St Helens local said he felt they were “robbed” but slammed those who let the town down.

I’m not a saints fan as people know but they where robbed last night, I like to think decisions ever themselves out over a season but a saints fan boasting on twitter that he assaulted a Leeds fan, really?? As a town we are better than that aren’t we? 🙄

— St Helens sport 💙 (@sthsportnetwork) March 4, 2023

One fan joked that it meant that Catalans Dragons are now the best side in the world.

So technically on form, this makes the Catalan Dragons currently the greatest Rugby League team in the world?

St Helens beat Penrith
Leeds beat St Helens
Hull FC beat Leeds
Catalans beat Hull FC

— NRL CONSPIRACIES- Naughty Horses 🐴🐴 (@NrlConspiracies) March 3, 2023

Meanwhile, pundit Jon Wells was praised for his segment at the end of the Sky Sports coverage.

Ooh la lah… had a great night at the Brutus and got back for last 20 mins of Saints-Leeds 😲😲

What a finish! Only Jon Wells on the touchscreen can calm things down, this is the best moment of the week for real fans. His analysis and rapport with players is incroyable.
❤️💛 pic.twitter.com/LiTHKvIGVi

— Catalan Media 🇨🇵 (@catalanmedia) March 3, 2023

Meanwhile, one supporter likened the win to the days of Sinfield.

Just like the Sinfield days, find a way to WIN! #leedsrhinos

— Paul Verity (@Papapvictor) March 3, 2023

Of course plenty of fans were rubbing it in that they’d beaten the World Champions.

World champs? pic.twitter.com/V9p61FosXX

— Anthony Lewis (@tonylewis92) March 3, 2023

“The most Rhinos thing to ever happen” was perhaps the best way to describe the win.

https://twitter.com/Rachellexx13/status/1631778216430927875

Rohan Smith came in for more praise for the way he dealt with the angry Saints fans at the end of the game.

Hats off to Rohan Smiths' calm & measured post-match interview on Sky. One of the best I've ever seen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
(Wire fan 💛💙🐺🏉)

— Chris (@chris_mod_wire) March 3, 2023

Aidan Sezer, Sam Walters and James McDonnell all impressed one fan.

Sezers best game tonight. Needs to back this up now every week. Impressed with McDonnell and Walters deserved his performance…he was outstanding in pre-season

— Liam Plumtree (@LiamPlumtree) March 3, 2023

Saints fans had a different view referencing the shoulder charge.

Absolutely ridiculous how Leeds’ shoulder charge has nothing done about it yet we get sent off for a little push!!

— Gemma🎢✨ (@Gemma_Disney_5) March 3, 2023

To be fair to Saints fans, many pointed the finger at their side’s poor discipline but still pointed at some of the decisions.

Yes, some ill discipline from saints Mr W will address this via a hairdryer moment post game,however several refs decisions would not hold up under scrutiny.Must be more even across games,what is held to be illegal in yesterdays match cannot be termed as a "good decision" today.

— Katie Anne (@KatieAn68886272) March 3, 2023

No excuses was the view of one fan.

Stop hitting players after they’ve passed or kicked the ball, that’s why you got 2 x 🟨 and 1 x 🟥 cards. No excuses for the foul dirty play.

— Marley (@marley7564) March 3, 2023

One Saints fan joked that it was Leeds’ Grand Final.

Good win for Leeds, typically you'd expect them to choke, but they treated it like a grand final and get the 2 points, nothing else just 2 points, that was definitely a hangover performance for the saints, no complaints from me

— 🎥🎢👪🏉Gavin Harrison🏉👪🎢🎥 (@gavmark10) March 3, 2023

That said, Saints fans were called out for a lack of class by some supporters.

Saints fans displaying a distinct lack of class tonight.

— Droggers (@ljdrury77) March 3, 2023

saints fans at the end should be embarrassed the ones who went to the front to scream abuse! regardless of what goes on there is no need for that! shows everything that is wrong with people! its a game!!!

— Chris Prescott (@Chris150379) March 3, 2023

One fan bucked the trend and claimed it was “one of the best refereeing performance.”

one of the best refereeing performances ive seen, stuck to his guns despite saints players trying to ref the game themselves and got every decision spot on. Think that saints try was a knock-on but other than that spot-on Leeds the much better side

— PeeTiii (@_PeeTiii_) March 3, 2023

Others said it was one of the best games they had seen.

https://twitter.com/_J291/status/1631776250044850177

A great game overshadowed by one decision was the view of one viewer.

If hurrell's doesn't make contact with his head he gets away with it… but I think he knew what he was doing tbh. Great game, little overshadowed by 1 decision. About time someone put a spanner in the works of saints

— 🦉🦉ChrisDay94🦉🦉 (@chrisday3107) March 3, 2023

But lets end on a positive.

Fans were describing it as “an absolute corker.”

https://twitter.com/KeithMu98470388/status/1631790838723272705