St Helens Slid Out of Top Six After Toulouse Hammering

St Helens’ Injury Plagues Lead to Devastating Loss

Paul Rowley’s St Helens entered the match depleted, missing five of their six starting forwards from the previous weekend’s clash with Wigan because of injuries. The side turned to academy products Matty Evans and Chris Matagi, who earned senior debuts in the event‑filled afternoon. The lack of frontline power proved critical as Toulouse exploited gaps in the line, turning a shaky defensive effort into a six‑tries‑to‑nothing shellacking.

Toulouse’s Rampaging Display

Toulouse arrived fresh from a 60‑point demolition of Catalans Dragons, signalling a sudden surge in confidence. Full‑back Olly Ashall‑Bott orchestrated a masterclass, creating five of the visitors’ eight tries while Mathieu Jussaume rifled home a hat‑trick. Jake Shorrocks supplied the kicking duties with seven successful goals, leaving a scoreboard that read 46‑0 in favour of the French side. The victory lifted Toulouse four places to ninth, marking their first home shutout of St Helens in the Super League era.

Key Statline and What It Means

The match ended with a 46‑point margin, St Helens posting a disappointing zero points. Toulouse’s try list included three by Jussaume and single scores from O’Kane, Chan, Ulberg, Tropis and Laguerre, while Shorrocks converted every kick. A knee injury to Owen Dagnall added to Saints’ woes, and unforced errors allowed Toulouse to stroll away with eight unconverted scores. The loss pushed St Helens below Leigh Leopards into seventh place, consigning the once‑formidable franchise out of the top six.

Impact on the Super League Race

Falling out of the top six will complicate St Helens’ play‑off prospects for the remainder of the season. The club now faces an uphill battle to regain a playoff spot, with the competition tightening as other teams close in. Toulouse’s resurgence, highlighted by back‑to‑back wins, suggests they are emerging as a genuine challenge for the upper echelon. Fans at the BrewDog Stadium gave a chorus of boos at the final whistle, underscoring the frustration felt across the community.

With the season’s momentum shifting, both sides will look to adjust quickly as new challenges await.