Recent history has shown that timing one’s run in Super League goes a long way to determining involvement in the end-of-season shake-up. And although there is still a fair way to go in 2016, St Helens once again seem to be coming good when it matters.
As recently as a month ago they were six points adrift of the top four but the Catalans Dragons’ form has dropped to a point where their position has become increasingly vulnerable.
The Saints, meanwhile, have shown the quality which made their coach, Keiron Cunningham, so revered as a player and have dragged themselves firmly into the title hunt as the Super 8s approach.
This always represented a dangerous afternoon for St Helens. With Rick Stone taking charge for the first time as Huddersfield coach, an improvement in performance was expected from the Giants and this display suggested they will have more than enough to preserve their Super League status in the qualifiers.
However, with Luke Walsh returning for the Saints and producing a performance like those which were commonplace during the first half of St Helens’ title-winning season of 2014, Cunningham’s side had too much class when it mattered and moved level on points with fourth‑placed Catalans.
“I’m elated and so proud of this group,” Cunningham said. “It looked like the top four had got away from us earlier this year but this club has a belief that you never give in. You get what you deserve in rugby league.”
The teams exchanged tries in the opening half-hour and with the high‑quality attacking play on an energy‑sapping afternoon in West Yorkshire, the two-score lead established by the Saints through tries from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Jordan Turner five minutes before half-time was crucial.
From there Huddersfield never really recovered. They reduced the deficit when Jermaine McGillvary finished a fine move on 46 minutes but an errant kick from Danny Brough soon afterwards allowed the St Helens wing Adam Swift to race the length of the field and reestablish the visitors’ 10-point lead.
Alex Walmsley added another try late on but by then the result was secure as Stone’s reign in charge at Huddersfield began with a defeat. “There’s plenty of positives,” Stone said. “There was some good stuff out there and it was a great experience for me but we’ve obviously got work to do ahead of the qualifiers.”
Huddersfield Connor; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Murphy, Ormsby; Brough, Brierley; Huby, Hinchcliffe, Rapira, Symonds, Lawrence, Ta’ai. Interchange Crabtree, Leeming, Roberts, Ikahihifo.
Tries Brough, Symonds, McGillvary. Goals Brough 3.
St Helens Lomax; Owens, Fleming, Percival, Swift; Turner, Walsh; Walmsley, Roby, Richards, Greenwood, McCarthy‑Scarsbrook, Wilkin. Interchange Amor, Vea, Thompson, Knowles.
Tries Greenwood, Owens, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Turner, Swift, Walmsley. Goals Percival 5.
Referee J Cobb (RFL). Attendance 5,526.
