St Helens travelled to Headingley to take on Leeds Rhinos in the Super League play-offs and the player ratings are in following their dramatic 16-14 win.
They looked dead and gone but they did the impossible as they scored on the final play of the game with the ball shifted both right and then finally left for Shane Wright to score and write his name into St Helens folklore.
Paul Wellens side finished fifth and therefore had to travel to Headingley but it’s been a happy hunting ground of late for St Helens, with their form against Leeds Rhinos actually quite impressive.
Prior to tonight they had won three of the four meetings in 2025 with their only defeat being at Magic Weekend, whilst they also won twice against the Rhinos in 2024. That form carried over, albeit very late on as they snuck an incredible win.
Without winger Kyle Feldt, it meant Jon Bennison who has been confirmed to be leaving was drafted in on the wing whilst the spine selection remained the same with Tristan Sailor at full-back as Jack Welsby and Jonny Lomax played in the halves.
Despite trailing 14-12 with the final hooter gone, Saints played their penalty and rolled the dice and they came out on top with one of the best tries you’ll ever see.
Following their play-off win, we’ve handed out our St Helens player ratings and they make for mixed reading.
St Helens player ratings
Tristan Sailor – 5
Scary moment early on as he and Deon Cross looked at each other awaiting a high ball. Recovered that ball but was targeted defensively by Leeds and he didn’t offer the magic in attack to make up for that until that pass on the final play of the game, which is by far the best thing he’s done in a St Helens shirt and it’s created an iconic moment.
Jon Bennison – 7
Scored his try late on and made the pressure kick as well whilst also cleaning up a few things defensively early on. Metres out of backfield were lacking but it was a strong performance.
Harry Robertson – 7
A very strong performance for the young centre who was coming up against fellow England star Harry Newman. His actions on that final play are simply incredible and have created one of the moments of the season.
Mark Percival -7
Defended a kick well early on and picked up a nasty-looking knee injury early in the second half but battled on bravely.
Deon Cross – 6
Didn’t see much of the ball in good territory and failed to kickstart sets as well as Saints might have wanted.
Jack Welsby – 7
Asked to play a position that isn’t his best on account of the fact that pre-season signing Sailor has struggled. A frustrating night trying to pull the strings as part of a disconnected spine.
Jonny Lomax – 6
Forced a mistake from his high kick early on and showed the smarts to not give up on Morgan Knowles’ kick when scoring Saints’ opener. Then kicked on second tackle when in good ball with 30 seconds to go of the first half in one of a number of poor decisions.
Alex Walmsley – 8
Only lasted 15 minutes in his first stint but returned and went on to play long minutes due to Lees’ departure.
Daryl Clark – 7
Saints had the superior ruck speed but how much of that was down to Clark compared to how much was down to how the Red Vee impacted Leeds’ ruck was unclear.
Matty Lees – 6
Put himself about in the first half but then left at the break to be at the hospital with his wife who had gone into labour. Saints missed him massively in the second forty.
Curtis Sironen – 9
Incredible kick chase to help set up the first try and made massive metres at times in what was an industrious performance. One of the best wearing a Red Vee but should have been sin binned for an open handed shove to the face of James McDonnell.
Matt Whitley – 7
One of Saints’ consistent performers throughout the season and he had another strong game but was outshone by playing partner Sironen and opposite number James McDonnell.
Morgan Knowles – 8
A wonderful improvised kick to set up the first try and a player who didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. In his last St Helens performance, he gave it his all once again.
Interchanges
Moses Mbye – 6
A tired swinging arm on Jake Connor gave Leeds a penalty in front of the sticks making it an eight-point game and that seemed to end Saints’ hopes. Was otherwise good as he upped the ruck speed but made that costly error.
James Bell – 8
Put himself about a lot when he came off the bench, especially in the second 40 when Saints were without Lees.
George Delaney – 7
His eyes lit up near the end of the first half as he broke through but couldn’t quite make it to the try line. Another who played long minutes.
Shane Wright – 6
Didn’t have the same impact as some others off the bench until that final play when he scored the most important try of his career.
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WHAT A GAME! 😳 pic.twitter.com/e8KGuuq4yh
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) September 27, 2025
