Joe Ofahengaue Stars In Leigh’s Statement Victory Over St Helens

Leigh Leopards further underlined their position arsenic bona fide Super League title contenders pinch different connection victory, this clip winning astatine fourth-placed St Helens to adjacent nan spread further connected nan competition’s apical two.

A period ago, Leigh conceded 50 points astatine Leeds and pinch fixtures against nan convention leaders Hull KR, second-placed Wigan and nan Saints connected nan horizon, it was not inconceivable to see whether nan Leopards could find themselves successful a scramble conscionable to make nan play-offs successful nan last 2 months of nan season.

However, they person won each 3 games to not only solidify their position wrong nan apical six but equine an battle connected Hull KR and Wigan supra them. Adrian Lam’s broadside are now conscionable 1 constituent down nan Warriors and 3 down nan Robins aft their first triumph astatine St Helens since 1982.

Against a Saints broadside who themselves had aspirations of a top-two decorativeness and a location semi-final successful nan play-offs having won 5 games successful a row, Leigh were defensively meticulous and objective erstwhile it mattered astatine nan different end, pinch Joe Ofahengaue’s 2nd half effort sealing different eye-catching win.

A Championship broadside conscionable 3 years ago, Leigh person emerged arsenic 1 of Super League’s champion clubs connected and disconnected nan section and are firmly successful nan speech for nan Grand Final. The crippled has not had a first-time victor astatine Old Trafford since Leeds successful 2004; suddenly, it is not outrageous to propose nan Leopards could extremity that wait.

The crippled had each nan hallmarks of an early sighting of nan play-offs. It was eye-wateringly aggravated from commencement to decorativeness and you ever felt that each constituent would beryllium crucial. That was emphasised erstwhile nan Leopards doubly opted to footwear penalties from nan footwear of Gareth O’Brien to return a four-point lead astatine half-time.

In opposition nan Saints – who avoided being nilled astatine location for nan first clip successful nan Super League only done Harry Robertson’s precocious consolation – opted to chance their limb and tally nan shot alternatively of taking kickable penalties. That proved to beryllium fatal travel afloat time, arsenic their onslaught grounded to muster thing important to problem a awesome Leigh protect effort.

The Leopards past struck a decisive rustle midway done nan 2nd half. With nan Saints still stuttering offensively, Edwin Ipape teed up for Ofahengaue, who barged done 3 defenders to touch down and springiness O’Brien a elemental conversion to make it 10-0.

Could St Helens respond? In short, no. They continued to toil distant without immoderate occurrence successful attack, pinch Paul Wellens bizarrely opting to usage only 2 of his interchanges each evening and keeping Jon Bennison and Leon Cowen connected nan bench.

And triumph was assured successful nan last stages. After an correction from Kyle Feldt nan shot recovered its measurement to Ofahengaue, 1 of respective magnificent recruits from nan NRL successful caller years that person transformed this club, and he crossed unchallenged to make it 16-0. Robertson’s consolation pinch seconds near mattered small successful position of nan outcome.

It was an historical evening connected a number of fronts. Records are location to beryllium surgery – and possibly a first convention title since 1982 is now not retired of nan mobility for a nine who were making up nan numbers conscionable a fewer short years ago.