There was nothing to choose between these two sides in 2023, the aggregate over the two games played so far being 37-37 as Leeds Rhinos travelled to the Totally Wicked Stadium to take on St Helens.
It was a weakened Saints side who had been dominating the headlines during the week after the injuries that they picked up in losing their semi-final against the Leigh Leopards against a Rhinos side who needed the win to keep alive their hopes of a play-off place in seven rounds time.
Saints were slight favourites but there was every chance that this would be a classic between two sides who had been almost inseparable throughout the season.
The rain was starting to fall as the two sides entered the field.
Saints drew first blood on five minutes after Blake Austin gifted a penalty as Will Hopoate chased down a Jack Welsby grubber and pushed off the Leeds tacklers and grounded. Tommy Makinson kicked the conversion and while it lookedlike it went over, the touch judges ruled it out.
The lead was extended to 6-0 thanks to a Makinson penalty on eight after Richie Myler got involved in the Saints play the ball on his own line, the Rhinos being totally shut out of play.
On twenty-two Rhyse Martin danced his way to the line after Jack Welsby had out a kick out on the full. The try had been coming for a few minutes but it was excellent footwork fromthe centre that broke the line. Martin added the conversionand the two sides were locked up again.
Leeds hit the front, and again it was delicate footwork which unlocked the Saints defence as Sam Walters took a short pass from Aidan Sezer before ripping through the line to score. Martin added the conversion for 12-6.
On the half time hooter Tee Ritson took a long pass in an acre of space to dive over in the left corner. Makinson added the conversion to level the scores at half time. It had been a humdinger of a first half, just as had been expected before kick-off.
Leeds had a try turned down by the video referee on forty-two and Saints took full advantage as they went downfield with Welsby taking an offload ten from the Leeds line and crashing over. Makinson was again off target with the conversion, Saints four points up.
The third Leeds try came on sixty-three with an accidental bounce pass from Richie Myler into the hands of Nene MacDonald who came inside one tackle and bust through two more to dive in at the corner. Martin added the touchline conversion to put Leeds back into the lead.
The sixty-sixth minute saw another lead exchange, this time it was Welsby who ran through a gaping hole in the Leeds defence to slide over. Lewis Dodd took over the kicking duties and converted in off the near upright.
In the dying seconds the Rhinos were pushing the Saints line for one final time as they tried to snatch the win but they knocked on and the game was over and it was the home side that took the two points to raise them level with the arch enemy Wigan on league points. Leeds indiscipline cost them again in a close-run game, Saints overcoming their player injuries.
St Helens: Welsby (2T), Makinson (2G), Hurrell, Hopoate(T), Ritson (T), Lomax, Dodd (G), Lees, Roby, Delaney, Bell, Royle, Knowles. Subs: Norman, Davies, Baxter, Mbye. 18th Man: Bruines.
Leeds Rhinos: Myler, Fusitu’a, Martin (T, 3G), MacDonald(T), Handley, Austin, Sezer, Oledzki, O’Connor, Walters (T), Bentley, McDonnell, Smith. Subs: Johnson, Lisone, Holroyd, Sangare. 18th Man: Roberts.
Score Progress: 4-0, 6-0, 6-4, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12, 10-12 12-12 :HT: 16-12, 16-16, 16-18, 20-18, 22-18 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: St Helens – Square – Leeds – Square – St Helens – Square – Leeds – St Helens.
Referee: Aaron Moore.
