Saints win at Castleford to make it two from two

St Helens have scored 31 tries in three games in 2025

Betfred Super League

Castleford (6) 6

Tries: Namo Goals: Hoy

St Helens (14) 46

Tries: Batchelor, Feldt, Lomax, Paasi, Robertson 2, Walmsley, Welsby, Bennison Goals: Percival 5

St Helens made it two wins out of two to begin the 2025 Super League season with a commanding victory at Castleford Tigers.

They ran in nine tries at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle which is enough put them top of the table on points difference ahead of Warrington Wolves and Hull KR.

Joe Batchelor, Kyle Feldt and Jonny Lomax crossed in the opening 15 minutes to take control, while Agnatius Paasi, Harry Robertson with two, Alex Walmsley, Jack Welsby and Jon Bennison all scored in the second half to wrap up the two points.

For Castleford, for whom Sylvester Namo scored their only try in the first half, this was a second defeat to start their league campaign to go along with a Challenge Cup exit away to Championship side Bradford Bulls as they finish the evening 11th in the early table.

The two sides had enjoyed contrasting starts to the season in league and cup with Saints strolling to two victories and running in 120 unopposed points in the process, while the Tigers had been on the end of narrow losses, including a golden-point defeat by Hull KR.

And it was the visitors who totally dominated proceedings in the early stages and had scored three tries before the quarter-hour mark.

Welsby's short pass allowed Batchelor to crash over from short range for the first, former North Queensland Cowboys winger Feldt produced a fine one-handed finish for the second before Lomax touched down Mark Bennison's kick after a slick Saints move.

It took the hosts almost 30 minutes to get on the scoreboard when Papua New Guinea prop Namo got over the line - the first try St Helens have conceded this season.

And the Tigers should have had another try moments later when new half-back Daejarn Asi cut through in midfield with a blistering turn of pace, but he went himself when there were options out wide, was crowded out and the move broke down.

The gap was only eight points at the break, but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished as Saints began the second half in the same blistering fashion as the first.

After the Tigers had repelled a number of sets to their line, Paasi could not be stopped as the visitors extended their lead.

Teenage centre Robertson then showed a further glimpse of his growing reputation with a faint that took out three defenders, giving him the space to cut inside and find the line and prop Walmsley was rewarded for a night of strong carries with a try of his own.

But they did not let up there and managed three more tries to finish the evening off.

Robertson grabbed a second after a fine pass from Welsby before the full-back changed from being provider to try-scorer, while winger Bennison scored ninth and final try with the last move of the game.

After finishing in a lowly sixth position in 2024, St Helens are out to bounce back this year and their attack is showing very positive early signs.

They go to Wakefield Trinity next Saturday, although having only faced amateurs West Hull in the cup and a second-string Salford Red Devils last week, the true tests are yet to come.

For Danny McGuire's Tigers, next up is a trip to Leeds Rhinos on 2 March as they aim to get their campaign up and running.

Post-match reaction

Castleford Tigers head coach Danny McGuire said:

"I thought we had a period of five or 10 minutes when we were OK, but the rest of it we were soft.

"I can't really see that many positives. We've gone backwards again and our challenge is to find some consistency.

"I just feel that when it gets tough and really starts to bite, we're not able to do our job properly."

St Helens head coach Paul Wellens told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"I am pleased with that performance. It's never an easy place to come, especially with this being their first home game of the season.

"It was a new experience for some of our lads and we handled it really well, particularly that first 20 minutes.

"Our start to the game was probably as good as it gets."

Castleford: Rooney; Kershaw, Cini, Wood, I. Senior; Asi, Hoy; Lawler, Rimbu, Westerman, Simbiken, Mellor, Horne.

Interchanges: Griffin, Hodson, Mustapha, Namo.

St Helens: Welsby; Feldt, Robertson, Percival, Bennison; Sailor, Lomax; Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Sironen, Batchelor, Knowles.

Interchanges: Whitley, Passi, Wingfield, Delaney.

Referee: Tom Grant.