Super League talking points as St Helens’ play-off chances dented by brilliant York Knights

Promoted York Knights hammered a nail in St Helens’ top-six coffin with a dramatic 34-32 victory at LNER Community Stadium this afternoon.

The lead changed hands three times in the first half, which ended all square at 16-16. Back to back tries, when Knights were a man down with Ata Hingano in the sin-bin, saw the home side go 12 points up.

Saints got back to within two with successive scores in the final four minutes, only for Tristan Sailor’s late touchline conversion, which could have levelled the scores, to drift wide.

The result means that St Helens remain two points adrift of the top six whilst the Knights have moved up to tenth, having secured their seventh win in what is their debut season in Super League.

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York Knights and St Helens talking points

Another notable scalp

A year ago York Knights were in the Championship. Promoted on half the funding most of their rivals are getting, even their most fanatical fan wouldn’t have believed they’d beat Hull KR and St Helens in their first Super League campaign.

They were deserved victors in a thrilling encounter which wasn’t high on quality, but had excitement in abundance. York scored some quality tries, but it was their defence under huge pressure for a spell in the second half which earned them the points.

It was a memorable afternoon all round for the home side, but particularly winger Jon Bennison who scored a try and landed five goals, from six attempts, against his former club.

Changing of the guard

It was Saints’ veteran prop Alex Walmsley’s his 300th Super League appearance, all of them for Saints. When he came off after 20 minutes he was replaced by Billy Keeley, making his first.

Walmsley presented Keeley with his jersey before the game. All four of Saints’ substitutes were products of the club’s academy, the others being Alfie Sinclair, 21, Tom Humphreys, 19 and 18-year-old Chris Matagi. Saints are doing it tough at the moment, but hard lessons the youngsters are learning now will prove valuable in the future.

Saints waste their extra man

Ata Hingano’s sin-binning for a high shoulder charge six minutes after the break was Saints’ fourth successive penalty. They almost scored moments later, but veteran forward Jordan Thompson somehow kept Jake Davies out with an astonishing try-saving tackle.

After that, the visitors conceded two tries and five successive penalties – including, unforgivably, being marched 10 metres for dissent – while York were a man down, which was inexplicable from the visitors.

Saints’ captain’s challenge, after a late hit by Shane Wright on a kicker, has to be up there as the worst of the season.

Deja vu

Andy Djeukessi was a surprise name on York’s teamsheet, the winger being drafted in on loan from partner club Newcastle Knights to replace concussion victim David Nofoaluma.

The 23-year-old, who has scored 20 tries in 19 games for Thunder this year, was playing for East Leeds in amateur rugby league’s then-National Conference a couple of years ago before a move to Castleford Tigers.

He made one Super League appearance for them – remarkably, that was against St Helens in a 40-0 defeat exactly a year ago, on August 1, 2025. Djeukessi had some tough moments, but it was an afternoon he won’t forget.

Try of the season

Jack Welsby’s second touchdown, which got Saints back in the game after they trailed 28-16, was a contender for try of the year. Having withstood huge pressure, York threatened with a kick to the visitors’ line which almost forced a drop out; Harry Robertson broke clear on the right flank, Tristan Sailor was in support and he put the full-back over for a brilliant end-to-end score. That sort of flair, however, was sadly lacking from a Saints side who look well short of play-off class at the moment.

WHAT A FINISH 🤯

The Knights hold on ⚔️#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/MpyaJgXHUe

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 1, 2026