Paul Wellens labelled makeshift kicker Jonny Lomax as the toughest player in Super League on his 300th appearance but St Helens rode their luck against Leeds.
The England stand-off’s killer pass set up the game-turning try for Jon Bennison as Saints bounced back from a shock loss against Salford. But the club’s fourth-choice goalkicker also slotted all three attempts, including two from wide out.
Regular kicker Tommy Makinson was ruled out with a hamstring strain in the warm-up, Mark Percival was banned and Lewis Dodd nursed a tight groin during the thrilling contest.
Coach Wellens enthused: “I think the last time he [Lomax] kicked for us was at Wakefield a couple of years ago and he knocked in some from the touchline again there to help us win. We might ask him to do it a bit more often now! Tommy pulled up really late in the warm-up and Lewis Dodd was going to kick but he had a tight groin so we didn't want to risk that.
"Being the great leader he is, Jonny put his hand up for us again. And on his 300th Super League game, he was the best player on the field. He’s an absolutely wonderful person and great competitor. When people talk about tough players they never mention half-backs as hard. But, for me, he’s the toughest competitor in Super League.”
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But Leeds, seeking a third straight win, will rue letting an 8-0 lead slip after Rhyse Martin converted Luis Roberts’ try and slotted a penalty. Lachie Miller sailed the restart dead after Bennison’s 57th minute try nudged the visitors 12-8 ahead. And Wellens’ side immediately capitalised as Mose Mbye dummied through some feeble goalline defence for back-to-back efforts.
It proved a calamitous couple of minutes for Rhinos. But they were fuming after Mbye appeared to illegally strip possession from Luis Roberts to set up position for Bennison to turn the game.
St Helens' Moses Mbye (left) celebrates scoring their third try with team-mates Sione Mata'utia (centre) and Lewis Dodd (PA)Wellens, who saw Waqa Blake begin the comeback just before the break, added: “It felt like we were almost hit by a cyclone at the start. They started with more intent than us. We very quickly almost lost control and were second best for long periods. But we got back into it well.”
The sides do it all back again at Headingley next Friday in the Challenge Cup sixth round. And Leeds boss Rohan Smith will take plenty of positives even when admitting his team suffered a couple of second half “clangers.” He said: “That was the best game I’ve seen this year in Super League. Two good teams going at it. We were patient in the first half, we defended well and we played some good footy.
“We didn’t capitalise points-wise. We just weren’t able to get it done. And Saints are a great team; they never die and they showed that.”
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