St Helens become World Champions with win over Penrith Panthers

They say ‘never write off a Saint’, and St Helens defied the odds once again on Saturday as they claimed their third World Club Challenge title with a 13-12 Golden Point victory over Penrith.

A golden point drop goal from Lewis Dodd sealed a slim victory for the Saints, who locked down their place as undoubtedly the greatest team Super League has ever seen, and saw them become the first team to win the competition down under since 1994 when Wigan defeated Brisbane.

The nickname was a talking point as the giants strolled to their fourth straight Grand Final win back in October, but now taking their victory streak onto the international stage has sealed their place in history once and for all.

St Helens controlled the first half in horrible conditions as the rain lashed down on a warm Sydney, and they took an early lead as Jack Welsby took his pre-match analysis down under by storm, proving he’s got all the ability that people have heaped praised on him for.

After losing winger Tommy Makinson to a failed HIA, Saints didn’t let the set-back stop them in their stride as they went in at half-time 10-0 to the good after a try from Konrad Hurrell.

The second period was delayed by ten minutes due to a lightning storm, but when proceedings restarted, it was the hosts who began with a flash. Izack Tago crashed over the line to get Penrith back in the game.

For the first real time in the match, the Panthers were beginning to build momentum, but with little time remaining, Saints attempted to put the game out of reach. Jonny Lomax sliced a drop-goal attempt which would’ve won them the match.

But with 90 seconds left on the clock, Brian To’o powered over to bring the game level, as Welsby’s only mistake of the game had huge consequences. Nathan Clearly converted his second kick of the game to send the game to golden point.

With the Brits kicking off in search of a deserved victory, it took four minutes of the added ten for the scores to be settled after a perfect set up from Alex Walmsley found Dodd, who kicked with perfection to make St Helens champions on the world.

It’s the perfect start for Paul Wellens who would’ve been feeling the pressure following the sheer success that Kristian Woolf brought to the ‘trophy town’.

But with it being a rarity of the Saints heading into a game as underdogs, they certainty showed that their label as the ‘best team Super League has ever had’ is no exaggeration, and they have certainly put themselves and Super League firmly on the global map after completing the best win in British Rugby League history.

Wellens’ side now chase a fifth-straight Super League title, but as far as 2023 is concerned, they couldn’t have got off to a much better start.

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