St Helens have defeated Huddersfield Giants to provisionally go top of Super League, doing so with a 26-18 win.
Saints extended their unbeaten run over the Giants to 14 matches, with Huddersfield’s last win over Saints last coming in March 2020.
You have to go even further back for a Giants home win, with that last coming back in June 2017.
The Giants were kept scoreless in the first half, but that would soon change in the second stanza, as they attempted to mount a comeback.
However, they would come up second best as incoming boss Jim Lenihan is left with plenty of work to do when he arrives in the country in the coming days if not weeks.
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Huddersfield Giants v St Helens talking points:
Rowley gets half a response:
Six days after their Challenge Cup exit to Wigan Warriors, Saints needed to respond quickly in order to keep their place in the top two of Super League.
A game against Huddersfield came at the perfect time for them to regroup, and they did just that after an impressive first half.
Crossing for four tries thanks to Harry Robertson, Lewis Murphy, Owen Dagnall and George Delaney, the away side took a 24-0 lead into the break.
However, that momentum wouldn’t carry into the second half, and instead it would be Huddersfield who had the majority of the second half profits.
A spirited Giants effort:
Three tries in the second 40 gave Huddersfield a real chance of a comeback, but ultimately they would leave themselves too much to do after such a poor first half.
Adam Swift, Asher O’Donnell and Niall Evalds all crossed for tries, leading to a tense final 10 minutes, but the home side would end up being their own worst enemy, with too many unforced errors leading to Saints tries.
Giants get another injury:
O’Donnell, in the act of scoring, would need to go off for a HIA, which he subsequently failed.
As a result, it will mean he will miss next week’s tie with Leeds Rhinos, however the Giants could have Joe Greenwood return in his place, after he was named in this week’s 21-man squad.
400 not out for Lomax:
Saints and Super League legend, Jonny Lomax racked up career appearance 400 tonight. Featuring off the bench as he has done in three of his six other matches this season.
Lomax has played 385 of the 400 wearing the Red Vee, with 11 coming for England and four coming for Great Britain in the tour down under in 2019.
He featured for the final 30 minutes, coming on for Daryl Clark at hooker. His milestone game wasn’t the easiest ride, as he and his side had to fight to hold off a Huddersfield comeback.
Kershaw makes long-awaited return:
After being out with an ACL injury since April 2025, on-loan Hull KR winger made his Super League return, featuring on the Giants’ right wing.
Almost scoring from an intercept in the first half, he was chased down by some impressive Saints defence, but the fact he got through the 80 minutes will have no doubt been the most important thing.
Lenihan walks into chaos:
Any head coach that was elected at Huddersfield Giants had a huge task on their hands, however Jim Lenihan’s task of rebuilding this current Giants side runs deeper than just the squad underperforming.
From players constantly getting injured, and for long periods, to players who aren’t quite Super League level, the former Brisbane Tigers boss has plenty to get his teeth stuck into when he arrives next week.
After playing for the Giants in 1999, Lenihan knows what it means to represent the club and the community. He will have to lean on that past experience to try and create a new culture at the club, one that is based on passion and work ethic.
The second half shows that the players can compete with the best of Super League, but doing it on a consistent basis is becoming a huge problem for the West Yorkshire outfit.
