It was a tense finish at the Wicked Stadium as Blake Austin’s last-gasp drop goal saw Leeds Rhinos snatch a 25-24 wins away to St Helen’s in a pulsating rematch of last year’s Super League Grand Final.
When Sione Mata’utia was given a yellow card for an off-the-ball tackle, the Rhinos, who lost the Old Trafford championship game the previous year, quickly took the lead when Ash Handley finished a brilliant length of the field counter-attack.
Joey Lussick and Lewis Dodd’s tries helped the Saints regain the lead. Although Leeds tied the score thanks to a try by Rhyse Martin and a successful conversion, Dodd took advantage of a mistake to score again, giving the defending champions an 18-12 lead at the half.
After the interval, Mark Percival increased St Helens’ advantage, but Curtis Sironen’s second caution, Tommy Makinson’s failed penalty, and Konrad Hurrell’s late red card proved costly for the hosts.
The Rhinos capitalized on their numerical advantage, with tries from Cameron Smith and Martin leveling the scores in the dying moments. As full-time loomed, it was left to Blake Austin to be the hero for Leeds. With the game on the line, the Australian halfback stepped up and fired over the match-winning drop goal to spark wild celebrations among the Rhinos players and fans.
The win is a huge boost for the Rhinos, who have been in good form of late and have now won their last four matches. It was a thrilling contest from start to finish, with both teams not giving an inch in a hard-fought battle. It was a frustrating night for the Saints as they could not take advantage of their numerical advantage and ultimately paid the price.
However, they remain at the top of the Super League table and will be determined to bounce back in their next game. For now, though, the plaudits go to the Leeds Rhinos, particularly Blake Austin. His last-gasp heroics ensured his team came away with the win and ensured the Rhinos now have a real chance of making a return to the Grand Final this year.