St Helens 42-12 Leeds Rhinos: Highlights, player ratings and talking points

St Helens took on Leeds Rhinos at the Totally Wicked Stadium tonight.

Saints went int the break with a 16-6 half-time lead courtesy of Konrad Hurrell, Alex Walmsley and Regan Grace tries – though the latter effort had some controversy about it following a suspicious knock on.

Leeds did reply with a superb Harry Newman effort, but Saints extended their lead to 20-6 after the break.

Bodene Thompson scored in the 52nd minute to show some defiance to make it 20-12, but three more Saints tries inflated the scoreline to 42-12 to take it out of the reach of Leeds.

Highlights

Harry Newman’s first-half effort was incredible – he beat at least four men to the whitewash.

Alex Walmsley’s two tries were picture book efforts for a prop forward.

Talking points

1. Controversy at half-time

Regan Grace was adjudged to have grounded the ball by referee Tom Grant and video referee Liam Moore despite looking as though he had lost control over the line. It was an even greater blow for the Rhinos considering they had had a try disallowed in the set before. It was certainly a talking point in the Sky Sports studio and from viewers.

2. Hurrell rolling back the years

People thought Konrad Hurrell was finished when he left Leeds Rhinos at the end of 2021. However, the Tongan international has proved all of his critics wrong, establishing himself as one of the most destructive centres in Super League. There was no wonder that Hurrell earned a new deal from Saints after such a good start to life in the Red Vee.

3. Leeds need luck

Leeds really didn’t deserve that scoreline tonight. They were excellent in defence despite the amount of tries conceded whilst their attack showed a lot more promise. If the bounce of the ball or specific decisions had gone their way, on a different night they may well have caused an upset.

4. New the man

How good is Harry Newman? The centre has had his fair share of horrific injuries in the past, but he is a different gravy when he is on the field. He was superb against Saints and took his try magnificently well.

St Helens

27 Jon Bennison – 7
2 Tommy Makinson – 7
23 Konrad Hurrell – 9
22 Ben Davies – 7
5 Regan Grace – 7
1 Jack Welsby – 7
6 Jonny Lomax – 8
8 Alex Walmsley – 8
9 James Roby – 8
10 Matty Lees – 7
16 Curtis Sironen – 8
12 Joe Batchelor – 8
13 Morgan Knowles – 7
Substitutes
14 Joey Lussick – 6
17 Agnatius Paasi – 8
19 Jake Wingfield – 7
24 Dan Norman – 7