Momentum heading into a Super League playoff campaign is certainly not the be all and end all: but the reactions of both these sides at the finish of a thrilling night in Leigh underlined how crucial it could be, as well as the different trajectories the Leopards and St Helens are on as the business end of the year begins.
This was a night of huge significance for both. Leigh, who were ninth as recently as July, knew only victory here would ensure they guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. In the end, a 10th win from 12 games cemented fifth and a trip to Salford in the opening round next week.
But that only tells half the story of a dramatic and compelling evening.
For their opponents created history for all the wrong reasons here. The Saints rallied well from 12-0 down and took full advantage of Ricky Leutele being sent to the sin bin to level the scores going into the final quarter. Had they won, they would have all-but ensured Leigh missed out on the playoffs and themselves secured fourth spot and a home tie next week.
But in a late twist, Josh Charnley’s late try swung things back Leigh’s way, closed the door on Catalans Dragons’ chances of making the top six and consigned the Saints to sixth: their lowest ever Super League finish. To make matters worse, they have a daunting trip to third-placed Warrington next week – with the losers’ season over.
They were below-par again, as they have been so often in recent weeks. But their coach remained upbeat. “I’m so disappointed to come out on the wrong side of the result,” Paul Wellens said. “That’s a defeat on the scoreboard but in a lot of ways it’s a win for us. We’ve taken a step in the right direction.”
Only time will tell next week whether he is right, but the mood was very different in the opposition camp. Leigh were largely written off this season, with many suspecting they would be unable to replicate last term’s remarkable run to the playoffs in their first season back in Super League.
Yet the Leopards have been the form side in the past two months, and few would now fancy facing them in a one-off game. This, incidentally, is the first time they have finished above the Saints since 1982. “It felt like a playoff game and it’s going to be the same intensity again,” their coach, Adrian Lam, said. “We’re there now and we’re going to give it our absolute all.”
Tries from John Asiata and Leutele put the Leopards 12-0 ahead on merit by the break and they looked well-placed to extend that after half-time. However, when Leutele was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Jack Welsby, it shifted things dramatically St Helens’ way.
In that 10 minutes without Leutele on the field, the Saints scored twice through Tommy Makinson and Morgan Knowles, with Jon Bennison converting both to make it 12-12. But when the centre returned, Leigh re-established control of proceedings and a wonderful free-flowing move freed Charnley to score what proved to be the match-winning try.
It all means that barring Catalans beating Hull by almost 200 points on Saturday, the lineup for the playoffs is set. Wigan and Hull KR get the first week off, with the Robins securing their highest league finish since 1985 courtesy of their win over Leeds on Friday that confirmed they finished second.
They will play the winners of the opening week’s eliminator games. The Saints travel to Warrington next Saturday, while Leigh take on Salford; a tantalising game between two teams that play fantastic rugby, and who have largely been written off all season by the experts.
And while Wigan, the reigning champions, are undoubtedly favourites, you get the suspicion that anything could happen on the three-week rollercoaster journey to Old Trafford. This night proved emphatically that nothing can be taken for granted in Super League.
