A flunky packed away the League Leaders’ Shield for the final week of the regular season as St Helens miserably succumbed at Langtree Park for only the second time this season. They still have a hand on the so-called “hubcap” for finishing top of the First Utility Super League going into the play-offs, although Castleford Tigers now have an eye on that silverware.
Castleford must beat Wakefield Wildcats at home on Sunday to keep alive their chances. St Helens can still wrap up a top finish away to Huddersfield Giants next Friday. If not, Castleford would go to Catalan Dragons 24 hours later with the chance to create a slice of history.
Only Wigan Warriors had got the better of St Helens at their shiny citadel, on Good Friday. Resurgent Warrington comfortably made it four successive league wins at Langtree Park, Saints’ home since 2012; the Wolves had failed to win on their previous 24 visits to the old Knowsley Road.
They led 22-6 after 26 minutes, but in that time lost Simon Grix, who suffered a suspected double leg fracture in a sickening injury, before Michael Monaghan, in setting up the Wolves’ fourth try of the half by his younger brother, came off worst colliding with Sia Soliola and Ben Westwood, then limped from the pitch. St Helens managed their tries from only two attacks of note. Paul Wellens, the veteran full back pressed into service at scrum half, pulled the trigger for both with silken passes in setting up Shannon McDonnell after three minutes, then the sidestepping Willie Manu on the half-hour in response to 22 unanswered Warrington points.
Stefan Ratchford dummied his way over after Monaghan swung play right in running a penalty. Monaghan feinted to pass as Saints fell for his three card trick, before the slight Gareth O’Brien fended off the strapping Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Monaghan’s charge from defence enabled Trent Waterhouse and Richard Myler to send Joel Monaghan beneath the posts, while Myler’s dropped goal restored Warrington’s three-score buffer.
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The second half was no more than a procession, with Saints beaten up front and picked off out wide as O’Brien and Myler pulled the strings. Myler exploited a gap for a deserved touchdown and Joel Monaghan grabbed his second as a speculative last tackle kick by Ryan Atkins wreaked havoc. Atkins carved his way clear for Warrington’s seventh try.
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Scorers: St Helens: Tries: McDonnell, Manu. Goals: Makinson 2. Warrington Wolves: Tries: Ratchford, M Monaghan, O’Brien, J Monaghan 2, Myler, Atkins. Goals: Ratchford 4, O’Brien. Dropped goal: Myler.
St Helens: S McDonnell; T Makinson, M Dawson, J Jones, A Swift; L Hohaia, P Wellens; K Amor, J Roby, A Walmsley, L McCarthy-Scarsbrook, A Laffranchi, J Turner. Interchange: M Masoe, S Soliola, W Manu, M Flanagan.
Warrington Wolves: M Russell; R Evans, R Atkins, S Ratchford, J Monaghan; G O’Brien, R Myler; C Hill, M Monaghan, B Harrison, J Laithwaite, B Westwood, S Grix. Interchange: M Higham, R Asotasi, T Waterhouse, B Currie.
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Referee: J Child.