A win of any description would be enough to ensure that St Helens ended round two at the top of Super League, but stood in their way was Danny McGuire’s Castleford Tigers who were themselves looking to get the first points of their 2025 campaign.
The Tigers were given a twenty point start on the handicap coupon by the bookies who couldn’t see anything other than a Saints win based on their commanding demolition of Salford last weekend coupled with a low expectation of the Tigers despite their golden point loss to the much-fancied Robins last time out.
Castleford needed to stop Saints getting on a roll, because if the did then the likelihood was that they would be on the end of a hiding.
Only five minutes were on the clock when Jack Welsby fed Joe Batchelor after a short goal line dropout went to Saints hands, the big second rower accepting the invitation to get the scoreboard moving. Mark Percival added the conversion.
On nine the Saints were in again, Kyle Feldt forcing the ball to the ground by the right corner flag off a long pass from Welsby. Percival couldn’t find the target this time from close to the touchline.
A beautiful third try came on thirteen minutes, Jonny Lomax collecting a pinpoint Jon Bennison grubber to charge over from ten metres out. It was already looking like a long night ahead for the Tigers despite Percival missing the conversion for a second time.
Castleford redoubled their efforts and on twenty-seven they were rewarded as Sylvester Namo stretched for the line after Jeremiah Simbikin picked up a charged down kick to set off downfield. Tex Hoy added the conversion to reduce the arrears to eight points.
After looking like a well beaten side after the early St Helens onslaught, Castleford stemmed the tide and went into the break with some hope and still in the game.
Saints were dominant in the opening stages of the second half, but it took seven minutes for Agnatius Paasi to crash the line from two metres out and ground. Percival added the conversion for 20-6.
Just like they had in the first half, Saints went back-to-back in the second, Harry Robertson taking a flick pass and coming inside twice, showing the shoulder to the Tigers defence, to go in by the right upright. Percival was on target again for 26-6, the points now in the bag with no way back for Castleford.
The sixth St Helens try came on fifty-eight, Alex Walmsley brushing off two tackles to stretch for the line and ground. Percival kicked his fourth goal of the night, Saints in danger of cutting loose and running in a big score.
A delayed Jack Welsby pass put Robertson in for his second of the night on sixty-five, stepping out of two attempted tackles to score in the corner. Percival pulled his kick across the face of the sticks.
Five minutes from time Welsby got a well deserved try to bring up the forty for Saints, throwing a dummy and weaving his way through the defensive line to score the eighth St Helens try of the night and cap off a very professional performance. Percival added the conversion.
In the final seconds of the game, Bennison added another, six second half tries without response for the visitors as they put the Tigers to the sword. Percival missed again, the final score being 46-6.
Saints dominated from the first minute to the last and made the win look simply as they cut Castleford apart, seemingly at will, to record another big win. Danny McGuire will be starting to appreciate the size of the mountain that his side will have to climb to be competitive in 2025, Paul Wellens will be happy that his side has put in two professional performances in their opening two games of a long season.
Castleford Tigers: Rooney, Kershaw, Cini, Wood, Senior, Asi, Hoy (G 1/1), Lawler, Rimbu, Westerman, Simbiken, Mellor, Horne. Subs: Griffin, Hodson, Mustapha, Namo (T). 18th Man: Hooley.
St Helens: Welsby (T), Feldt (T), Robertson (2T), Percival (G 5/9), Bennison (2T), Sailor, Lomax, Walmsley (T), Clark, Lees, Sironen, Batchelor (T), Knowles. Subs: Paasi (T), Whitley, Wingfield, Delaney. 18th Man: Stephens.
Half-Time: 6-14.
Full-Time: 6-46.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 0-14, 4-14, 6-14 : HT: 6-18, 6-20, 6-24, 6-26, 6-30, 6-32, 6-36, 6-40, 6-42, 6-46 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: St Helens.
Referee: Tom Grant.
