Leeds Rhinos 24 St Helens 16

Leeds Rhinos finally ended a nine-year hoodoo at AMT Headingley as Brad Arthur’s side’s 24-16 triumph over St Helens secured the Rhinos’ first home Betfred Super League match over the Saints since 2017.

Trailing at half time after an average 40 minutes, Leeds fought hard in the second half to overturn a 16-8 deficit as tries by Maika Sivo and Harry Newman were complemented by a flurry of goals from Jake Connor to steer the Rhinos home.

The home side were able to name an unchanged lineup from the side that beat Huddersfield Giants convincingly to sit at the top of the table last time out. After successfully debuting in his first Super League outing, Fergus McCormack retained his spot at full back whilst Lachie Miller continued to serve his three-match ban. Chris Hankinson and Ash Handley also surpassed major career milestones as Handley ran out for his 250^th Leeds game, and Hankinson achieved his 100^th Super League game.

The Rhinos took the chance to add early points to the board as Jake Connor made sure to punish a late hit by Curtis Sironen on Brodie Croft by slotting a penalty goal inside the opening five minutes to put Leeds on the front foot. Their advantage didn’t last long though as Saints began to lay the groundwork for a strong performance as Alex Walmsley supported a half break by Daryl Clark to take the hookers’ offload and score under the posts for a straightforward finish.

With last year’s dramatic eliminator finish still in the minds of both sets of fans, tensions began to boil as the teams realised how much of a tussle the game was turning into. Leeds peppered Saints defence with inviting chances, but Paul Rowley’s side answered all questions posed. Maika Sivo’s break saw the South Stand rise, but Harry Robertson’s crucial cover tackle stopped the winger in his tracks. Handley was also stopped moments later with the line in sight for the Leeds skipper, before Sivo’s attempt in the corner was denied by the video referee as the winger planted the ball down short of the try line.

Finally the Rhinos found the breakthrough on 26 minutes thanks to milestone man Hankinson. Good pressure on the Saints’ line finally told as Connor worked the defence well to drop the ball back inside, and Hankinson was in free space to score in back-to-back games for the Rhinos.

Despite Connor’s conversion taking Leeds into a two-point lead, the advantage evaporated with two St Helens tries in the last ten minutes. Straight after Hankinson’s effort, quick hands by Saints’ spine players Jonny Lomax, George Whitby and Jack Welsby put Kyle Feldt over in the corner on his return to the side. With the last play of the half, Tristan Sailor was the beneficiary of a well-timed grubber kick from Welsby as the make-shift winger got downward pressure on the ball to take Saints into the break with an eight-point lead.

Dissatisfied with how they’d finished the first half, the Rhinos need an improved second period and got off to the best start. Brushing off a barrage of attacks from Saints fresh out of the half, clinical passing from Danny Levi and Brodie Croft put Newman through for the centre’s fourth score of 2026. Connor also added a penalty goal off the back of former Rhino Joe Shorrocks hitting Kallum Watkins high as the score was tied up at 16-all after 50 minutes.

Still tensions boiled as Leeds became frustrated by Saints’ ill-discipline and eagerness to slow down the ruck. Both sides clashed on several occasions, but it wasn’t until the final ten minutes that the game finally opened up.

Saints were losing players to injury as Matt Whitley and Joe Shorrocks narrowed Rowley’s bench options, but the sin-binning of David Klemmer proved to be a pivotal moment in the whole match. The prop’s high shot on Fergus McCormack didn’t go unmissed by referee Jack Smith, who showed Klemmer a straight yellow card to compound the two injuries suffered. Connor wisely chose to kick the penalty to edge Leeds ahead, but after the drama of 2025, fans knew a final try would seal the deal.

Who else could they look to than star wing Sivo as the Fijian flyer added try number 22 of the season in the closing moments. Working a tired defensive line, Connor and McCormack combined and Sivo was able to stroll in to not only win the match for the Rhinos, but end a nine year wait to taste victory at home against the Red Vee.

Teams

Rhinos

28. Fergus McCormack, 2. Maika Sivo, 4. Ash Handley (C), 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Jake Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Jarrod O’Connor, 15. Cooper Jenkins, 14. Chris Hankinson, 12. James McDonnell, 17. Cameron Smith

Subs: 23. Danny Levi, 13. Keenan Palasia, 11. Kallum Watkins, 20. Presley Cassell (Sub not used) (18th Man – 26. Tom Nicholson-Watton)

Tries: Hankinson (26), Newman (46), Sivo (77)

Goals: Connor 3/3

Penalty Goals: Connor 3/3

Sin Bin: Smith (78 - Professional Foul)

Saints

1. Jack Welsby, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Harry Robertson, 4. Mark Percival, 6. Tristan Sailor, 7. Jonny Lomax, 17. George Whitby, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. Daryl Clark, 13. David Klemmer, 11. Curtis Sironen, 16. Matt Whitley, 22. Joe Shorrocks

Subs: 12. Shane Wright, 15. George Delaney, 28. Jake Davies, 30. Tom Humphreys (18^th Man: 29. Alfie Sinclair)

Tries: Walmsley (7), Feldt (30), Sailor (39)

Goals: Sailor 2/3

Sin Bin: Klemmer (72 – Dangerous Contact)