Super League: St Helens 36-16 Toulouse Olympique - Six-try Saints finish off relegated French side

Tommy Makinson, who also kicked five goals, and Konrad Hurrell were among St Helens' six try scorers

Super League table toppers St Helens rounded off their campaign with an expected victory over relegated Toulouse - but not before being given another shock by the Frenchmen.

Toulouse beat Saints earlier in the season and another upset was possible when they led 16-14 after the break.

But Konrad Hurrell, Tommy Makinson and Jack Welsby all crossed late on.

Added to first-half tries from Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen and Matty Lees, that was enough to settle it.

• Kristian Woolf to leave Saints at end of season

• Final 2022 Super League season table

Toulouse had to content themselves with consolation tries from Ilias Bergal, Nathan Peats and Eloi Pelissier at the home of the reigning champions before taking their leave of the top flight after a relatively encouraging first season in Super League.

On the day they lifted the League Leaders Shield at the Totally Wicked Stadium, Saints were boosted by the return of several key players from injury including Hurrell and Welsby while Sironen and Morgan Knowles were back after suspension.

Having avoided the possibility of a third straight defeat, they now have a full fortnight to prepare for their home play-off semi-final.

They at least started to get into business mode with four second-half tries.

Hurrell, Jonny Lomax and James Roby combined brilliantly to keep the ball alive for Lees to score, before Hurrell kicked for the corner and won the race to seemingly settle it with 13 minutes left.

But there was still time for Saints to add some gloss to a mildly misleading scoreline as Makinson converted his own try in the corner before Jon Bennison set up Welsby to go under the posts, with youngster Ben Lane adding the kick.

St Helens coach Kristian Woolf:

"I have said all along that it's going to be hard to say goodbye to this club and those fans. I and the players appreciate everything they do for us.

"I'm hoping I don't have to say goodbye just yet because we've got the play-offs. It has been a really big part of my life and something I am very proud to have been part of.

"It was a tough game given there was nothing riding on the result. It took us a while to get going but there was a different intensity in the second half. Once we found some space to play in we had a bit of fun."

Toulouse coach Sylvain Houles:

"We pushed them very hard and that's something to be proud of. We had nothing to play for and it was our third game in nine days. I couldn't be more proud.

"I think we can learn a lot from this season. We spent five years in the Championship but the Super League is another level. We have to learn from the effort, the details and it's no secret why St Helens have been the champions for the last three years.

"We need to make sure we build on these things for next season and then I believe we'd be better prepared to take another shot at Super League. I hope most of the team will stay with us for next season and show the same spirit."

St Helens: Bennison; Makinson, Hurrell, Davies, Lane; Welsby, Lomax; Pa'asi, Lussick, Lees, Batchelor, Sironen, Knowles.

Interchanges: Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Bell, Norman.

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott; Laguerre, Jussaume, Armitage, Bergal; Hankinson, Paulo; Belmas, Peats, Alvaro, Peyroux, Stefani, Marion.

Interchanges: Pelissier, Bretherton, Hansen, Sangare.

Referee: Michael Smaill.

Play-off eliminators

Friday 9 September

Catalans Dragons v Leeds Rhinos (Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan, 20:00 BST)

Saturday 10 September

Huddersfield Giants v Salford Red Devils (John Smiths Stadium,13:00 BST).

Play-off semi-finals

Friday 16 September

• Wigan Warriors v highest ranked eliminator winner, DW Stadium (20:00 BST

Saturday 17 September

• St Helens v lowest ranked eliminator winner (Totally Wicked Stadium (13:00 BST)

Grand Final

Saturday 24 September

• Old Trafford (18:00 BST)