St Helens 24 – 25 Leeds

Blake Austin came up with the game-winning drop goal in the final minute to snatch a memorable win for the Rhinos over the team which defeated them in last year’s Super League Grand Final

Blake Austin kicks the game-winning drop goal for Leeds against St Helens

Blake Austin’s last-gasp drop goal saw Leeds Rhinos snatch a 25-24 win away to St Helens in a pulsating rematch of last year’s Super League Grand Final.

The Rhinos, beaten in last year’s Old Trafford showpiece, stormed into the lead when Ash Handley finished a superb length of the field counter-attack after Sione Mata’utia was shown a yellow card for an off-the-ball tackle, but Saints hit back to lead through tries from Joey Lussick and Lewis Dodd.

Rhyse Martin’s try and conversion got Leeds back on level terms, only for Dodd to seize on an error to cross for his second which put the reigning champions 18-12 up at the break.

Mark Percival extended St Helens’ lead after the break, but a second yellow card for Curtis Sironen, a missed penalty from Tommy Makinson and a late red card for Konrad Hurrell proved costly for the hosts, with tries from Cameron Smith and Martin levelling the scores before Austin won it late on.

More to follow…