St Helens strengthened their Super League play-off position with a commanding 36-12 victory over 10-man Castleford at the Brewdog Stadium, showcasing a dominant first-half performance and contributions from six different try-scorers.
The result provides a significant boost to St Helens’ postseason ambitions, while casting further uncertainty over Castleford’s campaign following off-field turbulence.
Castleford’s challenges intensified earlier in the week when head coach Ryan Carr announced his departure from the club for personal reasons. Meanwhile, St Helens confirmed they will welcome Kevin Walters as their new head coach from the upcoming season, signaling a period of transition for both clubs.
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St Helens established control early, with tries from Jack Welsby, Shane Wright, Jacob Douglas, Tom Humphreys, and Tristan Sailor propelling them to a commanding 30-0 halftime lead. Jackson Hastings contributed five goals before his dismissal.
Hastings was sent off for violent conduct following an altercation with Tyler Dupree, who was simultaneously sin-binned for the same incident. The confrontation continued off the pitch as both teams headed toward halftime, adding tension to an already charged atmosphere.
After the break, Nene McDonald crossed for St Helens’ sixth try, effectively extinguishing any hopes of a Castleford comeback. Louis Senior and Laulu-Togaga’e scored consolation tries for the visitors, though St Helens themselves finished with 10 men after Alex Walmsley and Chris Matagi received sin-bins.
St Helens interim head coach Eamon O’Carroll praised his team’s resilience in difficult circumstances. “I said I wanted to see the attitude of the players, and what better way to display that than when you go down to 10 men for 45 minutes?” he told BBC Radio Merseyside. “The players were fantastic. We simplified a few things, which probably helped, because everyone knew what the role was and their position.”
Castleford director of rugby Chris Chester addressed Hastings’ red card in comments to Sky Sports: “Scott Murrell just jumped (in the way of Dupree). We all know the rules, you can’t punch people in the face. We’ll let the disciplinary (match review panel) deal with those kinds of things. That’s what they’re there for.”
Hull KR Slump to Another Home Defeat
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Hull KR suffered a second consecutive home defeat as Toulouse secured a well-deserved 32-12 victory at Craven Park, dealing another blow to their play-off aspirations.
The loss compounds a difficult week for Hull KR, who were defeated by Warrington in their previous home match. Head coach Willie Peters made the decision to drop Tevita Pangai Junior and Mikey Lewis following their respective bans handed down in the aftermath of the Warrington defeat.
The match began nervously, with both sides struggling to establish dominance in the opening stages. Toulouse gradually gained the upper hand, with Mathieu Jussaume crossing for the opening try on the half-hour mark after breaking through from the right flank.
Hull KR responded when substitute Elliot Minchella scored just before halftime, with Rhyse Martin converting to level the scores at 6-6 heading into the break.
The second half belonged to Toulouse, who kicked for an early penalty opportunity after Tom Amone’s late tackle, though Cesar Rouge’s attempt rattled off the crossbar. Undeterred, Toulouse regained the lead when Benjamin Laguerre sliced through the defense before feeding Romeo Tropis for a try under the posts.
Further scores from Anthony Marion—converted after a lengthy video review confirmed the ball was grounded—and Paul Ulberg extended Toulouse’s advantage. Tropis added a second try, and Luke Polselli crossed late to cap off a comprehensive performance.
Arthur’s Late Drop Goal Seals Dramatic Hull Victory
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In a dramatic finish at the Gilbert Brutus Stadium, Hull half-back Jake Arthur delivered a match-winning drop goal with six minutes remaining, securing a thrilling 27-26 comeback victory over Catalans Dragons.
The win marks only Hull’s second triumph in their last ten Super League fixtures, providing crucial momentum as they look to climb the standings. Arthur’s composed kick proved decisive after Hull mounted a remarkable second-half recovery.
Trailing 26-14 entering the final quarter, Hull sparked hope with converted tries from Harvie Hill and Aidan Sezer, leveling the contest before Arthur’s heroics. Earlier, tries from Logan Moy and Lewis Martin had given Hull an early advantage, but Catalans answered through Charlie Staines and Kruise Leeming to lead 14-12 at halftime.
Catalans appeared to seize control after the break with scores from Edenn Rogers-Smith and Leo Darrelatour sandwiching a penalty from Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, establishing a 26-14 cushion. However, Hull’s persistence paid dividends in the closing stages.
Hull interim head coach Andy Last reflected on the victory: “It was a nail-biting game, it went right down to the wire. I’m just really proud of the playing group. I spoke all week about showing our personality and our performance when it gets tough and to make sure you answer those questions with your effort and your actions.”
