Yorkshire | Leeds Rhinos stunned by late St Helens comeback

Leeds Rhinos 14 - 16 St Helens

Shane Wright scored with the final play as St Helens produced a remarkable comeback to knock Leeds Rhinos out of the Super League play-offs. 

Author | Oliver W

Stadium | Headingley Stadium

Saints only led after the hooter had sounded, moving the ball from left to right and back again before Wright touched down on the last tackle to keep their season alive.

The visitors were forced to play the second half without forward Matty Lees, who left the field midway through after being told his wife had gone into labour. Yet despite the disruption, they found the resilience to overturn Leeds’ advantage in the closing minutes.

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James McDonnell’s superb first-half try had given Leeds a 12-6 lead at the break, after Jonny Lomax’s improvised score had cancelled out Chris Hankinson’s opener for the hosts. Leeds dominated much of the second period but squandered chances, with only a Jake Connor penalty adding to their tally.

That wastefulness proved costly. Jon Bennison’s late try opened the door for Saints, before Wright completed a breathtaking turnaround with a 16-pass move that swept across the pitch, featuring Harry Robertson’s mazy run through several tackles. The win sets up a semi-final at Hull KR on Saturday, 4 October.

This was always going to be a classic

Pre-match fireworks

The contest had always promised to deliver. Between them, Saints and Leeds boast 17 Grand Final victories, and both sides made changes for this knockout tie. Saints were forced to reshuffle after losing winger Kyle Feldt to injury, while Leeds welcomed back the prolific Ryan Hall alongside Man of Steel nominee Connor.

Connor was central to Leeds’ first try, combining with Lachie Miller and Ash Handley before releasing Hankinson to score. It came moments after the winger had spilled a high ball to hand Saints pressure, a sequence that captured the chaotic intensity of the opening stages.

A mix of fortune and sharp thinking brought Saints level when Curtis Sironen claimed a high kick and offloaded to Morgan Knowles, who lost control of the ball. In the same movement, Knowles stuck out a boot to transform what looked like a knock-on into a deft grubber kick that Jonny Lomax finished.

Leeds responded with McDonnell restoring their lead, slipping past three tackles to score on the half-hour mark.

Fan picture | The view from the Headingley terraces

The loss of Matty Lees at half-time left Saints short on the bench during a physically demanding evening in West Yorkshire, as Leeds pressed hard for further tries after the break.

The hosts squandered a string of opportunities to extend their advantage, and a captain’s challenge from Saints saw Ash Handley denied what looked like a decisive score. At the other end, Jake Connor produced a try-saving shove to halt Jon Bennison on the hour.

Connor later edged Leeds further ahead with a penalty, but Bennison struck back with four minutes left to revive Saints’ hopes.

A penalty against Leeds for offside handed Saints one last chance, and Wright took it, sealing a famous win for the club that had given him a lifeline after his August loan move from financially stricken Salford.