Super League Super Eights Round 5 Review

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The Super Eights reached their fifth round last weekend, with teams hoping to secure important wins across the three leagues. In the Super League Super Eights, Hull were looking to recover from last week's defeat to St Helens, while Leigh were just one win away from the Super League in the Qualifiers.

Thursday: St Helens 40-16 Castleford

St Helens kicked off round five with victory over Castleford, further securing their place in the play-off semi-finals. The Tigers led 10-6 after 27 minutes, but tries from Morgan Knowles, Kyle Amor and Jordan Thompson gave the Saints a healthy 24-10 lead at the break.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Adam Swift increased the Saints' lead by ten in the second period, and Alex Walmsley powered over for another after a Castleford consolation from Will Maher.

Friday: Hull 12-18 Wigan

Hull FC suffered a second defeat in as many weeks since their Challenge Cup triumph as they were defeated by Wigan at the KCOM Stadium. The Warriors broke the deadlock after a brilliant run from George Williams, but the home side were 12-4 in front at half-time after scores from Fetuli Talanoa and Mahe Fonua.

Sam Powell survived a video referee referral to cut the Airlie Birds' lead to just two, before Taulima Tautai's barnstorming run provided Shaun Wane's men a crucial away victory.

Saturday: Leigh 48-40 Huddersfield

Leigh defeated Huddersfield at the LSV to confirm their place in next year's Super League - the result also means a current top flight team must be relegated. A first half hat-trick from former St Helens man Matty Dawson was just one of the highlights in a ruthless first half, at the end of which the Centurions were 42-10 ahead.

Half-back Martin Ridyard got himself two tries in the first 40, including a full-length interception break. The hosts' eighth try, provided by Mitch Brown in the second half, was enough to dispel an impressive second half fight-back from Huddersfield. Leroy Cudjoe and Jamie Ellis both scored back-to-back tries to take Rick Stone's men to 40 points - not enough to spoil Leigh's party.

Words by Jonny Whitfield

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