For the first time in over 60 years, an end-of-season playoff series in England’s top division will take place without St Helens after their miserable season was given the emphatic ending it deserved with a heavy defeat by Leigh.
You have to go back to 1962 to find a playoff campaign that did not feature one of rugby league’s most successful clubs. They have featured in every edition in Super League history and won a record 10 titles in the summer era, but in truth the writing has been on the wall for some time that this would be the year that run ended.
They knew only victory against a Leigh side who themselves are now assured of a playoff place would be enough to keep their season alive going into the final weekend. Without over a dozen first-team players, there were brief flirtations of resistance, but ultimately, as has been the case throughout 2026, Saints’ fallacies were all too glaring when it mattered.
The gulf in class between the sides was obvious, with Leigh now looking ahead and Saints preparing for life under the Australia coach Kevin Walters, when he takes charge next season. He will know a major rebuild lies ahead at Super League’s fallen giants.
On a night when the stakes were at their highest for Saints, it was the hosts who began with the greater purpose and intent. Leigh would take an early lead as Super League’s all-time top try-scorer, Josh Charnley, finished a fine move to score the 281st of his career – and the wing celebrated by signing a fake contract extension which was announced in the stadium moments later.
Leigh were buoyant after the early breakthrough and news of Charnley’s future being confirmed, and they would quickly double their lead as a break from deep was finished by full-back David Armstrong. Saints were on the back foot, trailing 12-0 and in grave danger of being blown away, but to their credit their injury-hit side dug in against the proverbial tide.
Tristan Sailor’s wonderful pass sent Jacob Douglas over in the corner before the St Helens full-back scored a try of his own after an outrageous break from Harry Robertson. Sailor could only convert one which meant Saints trailed 12-10, but given where they were just 10 minutes earlier it undoubtedly felt like a success.
However, Leigh continued to push for points. Errors at critical moments were St Helens’ undoing, giving the home side the chance to extend their lead through Umyla Hanley’s brilliant break before, on the stroke of half-time, Adam Cook’s instinctive try extended the Leigh lead to 14. Having battled gamely to get back into it, that crucial try opened up a sizeable three-score lead.
The first score after half-time felt season-defining for both teams. Saints did show some resolve again in the early exchanges of the second period, but the decisive moment arrived when their veteran centre Mark Percival was sin-binned for a high tackle on Armstrong. A man light, the visitors simply could not hold the tide back any longer.
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Leigh eventually took advantage to put the result beyond doubt when Edwin Ipape barged over three St Helens defenders under the posts, before Hanley’s second – another wonderful finish to underline why he should be in England’s World Cup squad this autumn – guaranteed that the Leopards were heading for the playoffs and Saints’ lengthy streak would be ending.
Leigh then put the seal on a fine night late on with tries for Jacob Alick-Wiencke and Robbie Mulhern. They are heading for the playoffs: St Helens’ season is now over.
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