Could Super League star face ban – Kevin Brown has his say on incident

After serving up a classic encounter in the Betfred Super League last week, Leeds Rhinos again hosted St Helens this time in a do or die clash in the Betfred Challenge Cup.

Leeds last won the Challenge Cup in 2020 defeating Salford Red Devils in an empty Wembley stadium due to the pandemic. The Rhinos haven’t won in the Challenge Cup since. They were beaten at the first hurdle in 2021 against St Helens before the same fate befell them in 2022 against Castleford Tigers and again in 2023 against Wigan Warriors.

Leeds have also not beaten the Saints at home since the 2017 Super League season ironically in the final game in front of the old South Stand.

Saints only had to look back on last week for inspiration for how to get a Headingley victory and were looking to begin the road back to Wembley. They last won the Challenge Cup back in 2021 defeating the Castleford Tigers at Wembley.

The Saints started by far the better dominating the opening 15 minutes and taking a 4-0 lead. But these points didn’t come from a try but rather a pair of penalties from Jonny Lomax.

Saints were well and truly on top and a try looked on the cards and it did but the wrong way as Harry Newman intercepted and went 100 metres to score under the sticks.

Renewed optimism from the Rhinos but before the break they found themselves behind after a try from Daryl Clark just before halftime.

That gave Saints the lead and they would only go on to extend that lead in the second 40. After Jon Bennison scored in the corner, Alex Walmsley would power over for a deserved try on a night he was outstanding down the middle.

That gave Saints a 20-6 lead and they’d keep it moving into the quarter-finals as Leeds continue to wait for a win over Saints at home and any sort of win in the Challenge Cup.

Kevin Brown has his say on incident ahead of Super League disciplinary

The big games just keep on coming for both sides and that is certainly true next week over Easter.

Leeds Rhinos head over to Castleford Tigers hoping to avoid a repeat of the shock defeat they suffered there last year and to pick up Rohan Smith’s first over there.

Meanwhile, St Helens will take on Super League Champions Wigan Warriors at home in a huge test of both side’s title credentials.

But could the Saints face a ban? Some Leeds fans will feel like Curtis Sironen maybe should get a ban for a swinging arm against the Rhinos in the first half but not Kevin Brown.

He described it as a “Big shot. The crowd don’t like it but it was just one of those nice and fair tackles.” Which was the view of Chris Kendall as well.