A disastrous ten-minute spell in the second half proved to be the difference between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens in round four of the Betfred Challenge Cup as the Rhinos suffered a 22-14 defeat to bow out of the 2025 Cup competition.

Late tries from Ash Handley and Harry Newman couldn’t claw the Rhinos back into the contest at the Totally Wicked Stadium, after three tries in ten minutes helped Saints book their place in the quarter-finals.

Coming into the match, Brad Arthur was able to include Lachie Miller for the first time in 2025 as the full back returned from an injury suffered in pre-season to start in the number one shirt. Ryan Hall also made a welcomed return on the wing after he missed the defeat to Catalans.

Cooper Jenkins started in the pack, shifting Keenan Palasia to loose forward. Morgan Gannon dropped to the bench, where there was a return to action for Tom Nicholson-Watton as he was included in a squad for the first time since the win over London in September 2024.

With fans awaiting another Cup classic in the 23^rd instalment between the two clubs, nothing could separate the two sides in most of the first half as they got stuck into the contest.

In the opening quarter, Daryl Clark led an inspired drive for the home side in their best chance of the opening exchanges, only to lose the ball in the tackle. Leeds responded by pinning Jack Welsby in his own in-goal area for a set restart, and off the consecutive set, a penalty against Saints for holding down Harry Newman saw Jake Connor opt to kick a penalty goal to give the Rhinos a two-point advantage.

Saints quickly hit back to take the lead thanks to winger Kyle Feldt. An offside call against Cooper Jenkins hurt the Rhinos, but the away side’s defensive work looked to have saved them when Tristan Sailor was forced to surrender a promising attack. On the last tackle, Jonny Lomax hoisted his kick high and Harry Robertson managed to bat the ball back into the arms of Joe Batchelor, who subsequently put Feldt over in the corner to make the score 6-2.

A half with very few chances continued as both sides refused to give the other an inch. Leeds’ best try-scoring chance of half should have seen substitute Sam Lisone post James Bentley through a hole, but the prop’s pass at the line was poor and Saints recovered. Paul Wellens’ side pushed for a late try when Jon Bennison’s half-chance set up Lomax for a kick over the top, but Newman defused for Leeds to send the sides into the break only four points apart.

Leeds were gifted an early chance in the second half when Ash Handley latched onto a wayward pass from Morgan Knowles to set Leeds up close to the try line, but a penalty for obstruction against Newman ended the opportunity. Still buoyed by the early possession, Leeds’ England international centre tried to set up another attack by stabbing a kick in behind to force a goal line drop out, but the chance ended when another poor pass from Lisone proved to be the visitors’ downfall.

Out of nowhere, three quick-fire Saints tries in ten minutes opened the game up for the home side. Harry Robertson created the Red Vee’s first try of the new half as he broke through Lumb's tackle to set up Sailor for an easy finish. Off the back of a break by George Delaney through the middle of the Leeds’ defence, Lomax held up the ball in time to feed Matt Whitley through untouched for a third Saints score, before Robertson got a try of his own.

With Leeds reeling from the previous try scoring hammer blows, the young Saints centre managed to smuggle a kick ahead out of the grasp of both Handley and Miller to touch down a fourth try of the night. Percival missed the latter kick to make the score 22-2.

Leeds needed to start showing some fight if they were to get their name in the quarter finals, and Handley gave them a glimmer of hope as he connected with Connor’s deft chip kick to get the Rhinos’ first try of the contest.

Tempted to throw the ball around and close the scoreline some more heading into the final ten minutes, Jack Sinfield almost took advantage with a dart out of dummy half but was agonisingly short. Moving across the Saints defensive line to keep the set alive, Leeds looked to have a chance on the left edge, but Connor’s pass intended for Lumb was fired passed the winger to end a brilliant opportunity.

Saints needed one final blow to finish the fight and Wellens’ side thought they had it when Welsby kicked a 40/20 to set up a new set camped on the Leeds line. Keeping the home side at bay with good defence, the Rhinos switched quickly into attack to motor downfield with Miller, and off another drop out, Newman found his way to the line for a consolation effort; the final score 22-14.

Teams

Saints

1. Jack Welsby, 2. Kyle Feldt, 26. Harry Robertson, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Tristan Sailor, 7. Jonny Lomax, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. Daryl Powell, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Curtis Sironen, 12. Joe Batchelor, 13. Morgan Knowles

Subs: 16. Matt Whitley, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 18. Jake Wingfield, 19. George Delaney (18^th Man – 15 James Bell)

Tries: Feldt (25), Sailor (47), Whitley (52), Robertson (57)

Goals: Percival 3/4

Rhinos

1. Lachie Miller, 23. Riley Lumb, 4. Ash Handley (CC), 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Brodie Croft, 18. Jake Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Andy Ackers, 17. Cooper Jenkins, 11. James Bentley, 12. James McDonnell, 10. Keenan Palasia

Subs: 15. Sam Lisone, 16. Morgan Gannon, 20. Jack Sinfield, 22. Tom Nicholson-Watton (18^th Man – 14. Jarrod O’Connor)

Tries: Handley (62), Newman (77)

Goals: Connor 3/3