There was a time when meetings between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos were played out on rugby league’s biggest stages. For two decades, these sides frequently faced off in major finals, dominating Super League. However, this latest encounter highlighted how the balance of power has shifted, with St Helens once again prevailing to book a place in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals. This victory marked their 18th win in the last 19 meetings against Leeds.
Leeds have struggled to keep pace with Super League’s top teams in recent years. Their failure to defeat a top-flight side in the Challenge Cup since their 2020 final triumph underlines their decline. On this evidence, their wait for another major trophy looks set to continue.
Since taking charge midway through last season, Brad Arthur has brought resilience to his Leeds side, but their attack continues to falter against elite opposition. Before Ash Handley’s try in this match, Leeds had gone nearly 160 minutes without scoring one. By the time Handley crossed the line, the game was already slipping away.
St Helens, while not quite the dominant force of previous seasons, proved their quality in a devastating eight-minute spell, scoring 16 unanswered points to take control. Their coach, Paul Wellens, acknowledged the positives but insisted there is room for improvement. “There was a lot to like about our performance but things we’ve got to work on,” he said. “We’re in a good spot but there’s improvements in us. We’re developing our game and we want to be a team that can hang tough and then go bang, bang and score tries.”
Arthur remained defiant but conceded his side’s inconsistency had cost them. “There was a 10-minute window that hurt us,” he said. “We had good effort and good physicality and stayed in the fight. We’ve got to learn to do that for 80 minutes.”
The game was evenly poised at halftime, with St Helens leading 6-2 after a try from Kyle Feldt. However, both teams lacked quality in attack, and it seemed likely that the first to raise their game would seize control. St Helens did exactly that in the second half, with three quick tries swinging the contest firmly in their favor.
Tristan Sailor opened the scoring spree, extending the lead to 12-2. Moments later, Sailor broke through again, setting up Matt Whitley for another try. The outstanding Harry Robertson then added a third to make it 22-2, all but securing St Helens’ progression.
Leeds, to their credit, fought back in the final quarter. Handley’s try ended their long wait for a score, and Harry Newman added another in the closing minutes. However, the damage had already been done. Despite their determination, Leeds’ poor Challenge Cup record continued, and their inability to challenge the top sides over a full 80 minutes remains a significant concern.
