Wigan Warriors, Leigh Leopards and St Helens are battling at the top, Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Hull FC and Hull KR pushing for play-off spots and Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity battling at the bottom.
There was a feel good feeling at Castleford after beating Wakefield last week but that was blown away by the Saints who led 30-0 at halftime as St Helens laid down a marker of their own.
It was an interesting game for Cas to approach and the fans were divided on the outcome with one fan calling for the club to launch an official complaint about the officials.
Should be lodging a complaint about the one sided officials in the first half. Really didn’t want to give us anything for holding down. Surprised JT didn’t get up fuming after getting zip all game.
Write it off, go again, though. Winnable games ahead
— Mark F (@Pleyndamour) August 25, 2023
However, the Tigers are still above Wakey and that was enough for one fan.
Another game ticked off and still above Wakey with better points difference
— Stevieb (@sjbaaker) August 25, 2023
It was a case of “could have been worse” for one supporter.
Could have been a lot worse with half time score at 30-0, wakey lost aswell by 20 so as strange as it is ill take this result 😂😂
— Baz Richardson (@BazRichardson84) August 25, 2023
One fan simply took the approach of move on.
Less said the better. Move on and forget it. More important and winnable games coming up.
— Callum Land (@CallumLand) August 25, 2023
Whilst the notion of “could have been worse” continued to dominate.
Could've been a lot lot worse. Much improved in 2nd half compared to first. Only 10 points diff lost. That's (on paper) one of our harder fixtures crossed off, and one of Wakey's easier. Dust ourselves off for next week
— Joe C (@i_eat_seatbelts) August 25, 2023
It took Saints ten minutes to get on the scoreboard but from that point onwards they were dominant with Mark Percival opening the scoring for the Red Vee after ten minutes courtesy of smart wing play by Tommy Makinson.
Makinson then got on the score sheet himself eight minutes later after Saints made the most of some good territory allowing the winger to touch down in the corner.
The 25 minute mark saw Jon Bennison get in on the action and the score stretch to 16-0 and seemingly out of Castleford’s reach within the half hour mark.
Mark Percival then knocked the conversion over to mark a personal achievement of 1,000 points for St Helens, a major milestone for the centre.
Joe Batchelor was then played in by Jack Welsby as Saints continued their march before Makinson added his second before the half to make it 30-0.
It wasn’t long into the second half before Saints got back on the scoreboard again and that came through Jonny Lomax who was the beneficiary of a brilliant move with Welsby finding Percival, out to Makinson and then back inside for the half back Lomax.
Percival missed that conversion and Saints kept quiet for the following 15 minutes before eventually conceding to Jordan Turner who scored in the corner following a set on Saints line.
That made the match 34-4 and with Sam Royle sent to the sin bin for laying on in the tackle it offered Castleford an opportunity to add more points in the final ten minutes.
Unfortunately for Castleford they couldn’t capitalise on their man advantage with no points scored in the final ten which saw St Helens finish up as 34-4 winners, jumping ahead of Wigan into second and pulling clear of fourth placed Leigh Leopards.
As for Castleford they remain two points clear of Wakefield who also lost so their fate remains in their hands currently.
