The maths were simple, a loss for Saints would see them finish the season in fifth spot and guarantee a top four place for the Leigh Leopards, while the revers would march us into the final week of the regular season with places from three to five still up for grabs.

Leigh were the victors the last time that the two sides locked horns in July, the 16-4 victory being the outcome of the only encounter between the two near neighbours in 2025.

The bookies didn’t have a clue what the outcome would be and handicapped the home side by just two points going into the game as the house full notices went up at the Leigh Sports Village.

It was an opening ten minutes devoid of clear-cut chances but on eleven the Leopards opened their account when Lachlan Lam fed Bailey Hodgson who put in a fast pass to Andrew Badrock to ghost through a gap to score. Gareth O’Brien added the extras to put his side 6-0 in front of their vociferous fans.

On twenty minutes Owen Trout hit the ball at speed and crashed over the line, but the video referee agreed with the on-field official that there was a double movement in the act of scoring.

After Jack Welsby was penalised with a loss of metres for backchatting the referee Leigh took full advantage on twenty-three, Lam again the provider as Keenan Brand took the high ball on the wing before stepping inside and wrongfooting the defence to vibe for the line. O’Brien was on target again, Saints looking tired and unable to answer Leigh’s questions.

Saints had a try ruled out on thirty-two for an offside. On thirty-seven O’Brien missed a penalty goal, not even managing to get the ball dead in goal.

Hostilities broke out on thirty-eight minutes when Edwin Ipape hit Darly Clark high, the Leigh man sent to the sin bin but while Saints ended the half on the attack, they also ended the half pointless.

It took Saints four minutes of the second half to make the one-man advantage count, Kyle Feldt taking a Harry Robertson pass to take half a dozen steps and ground in the right corner. Mark Percival was unable to add the touchline conversion, Saints still needing to score twice.

Two minutes later Saints were in again when a high kick was spilled by Bailey Hodgson and picked up by Tristan Sailor who passed out to Harry Robertson to go in from fifteen metres. Percival added the extra two, the Ipape sinbin now looking rather an expensive tariff for the Leopards.

Luck was on Leighs side on fifty-seven when Umyla Hanley caught an O’Brien high kick, offloaded into the path of a charging Jack Hughes who dribbled the ball forwards and grounded for the try.  O’Brien added the extras, the margin back to eight points.

The game was won on sixty-five, Ipape hitting the ball at speed a couple out from the line to cross and score under the sticks. Hodgson added his first goal of the night for 24-10 with no way back for Saints.

Six minutes from time an Ipape grubber was chased and grounded by Trout for the fifth and last Leigh try of the night, adding to Saints woes but causing raucous celebration on the terraces. O’Brien was unable to add the conversion.

This was a historic night for Leigh who guaranteed themselves a top four finish for the first time in Super League, and as a result a home quarter final against either Wakefield or St Helens. It also lifts them into third spot ahead of the Leeds Rhinos and puts them in the box seat to retain that position next weekend in the final round. St Helens will now finish fifth, regardless of results next weekend, the Rhinos now also guaranteed a top four finish.

Leigh Leopards: Hodgson (G 1/1), Brand (T), Badrock (T), Hanley, Charnley, O’Brien (G 3/5), Lam, Trout (T), Ipape (T, SB on 38), Mulhern, Halton, Hughes (T), Liu. Subs: Pene, Ofahengaue, Davis, Dwyer. 18^th Man: Tuitavake. 

St Helens: Sailor, Feldt (T), Robertson (T), Percival (G 1/2), Cross, Welsby, Mbye, Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Sironen, Whitley, Batchelor. Subs: Lomax, Bell, Paasi, Delaney. 18^th Man: Bennison.

Half-Time: 12-0.

Full-Time: 28-10.

Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0, (SB) : HT: 12-4, 12-8, 12-10, 16-10, 18-10, 22-10, 24-10, 28-10 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Leigh.

Referee: Liam Moore.