St Helens returned to winning ways in the Betfred Super League on Thursday, securing a 34-18 victory over Catalans Dragons at the BrewDog Stadium. The match was particularly notable for the sensational debut performance of 18-year-old Jack Campbell, who scored two crucial tries.
Campbell, drafted into the squad at short notice due to an extensive injury list, including Nene Macdonald, played on the wing and proved instrumental in Saints' second-half resurgence. His double, alongside two tries from Harry Robertson, helped St Helens overcome a 12-6 half-time deficit and deliver a much-needed response after their heavy 46-0 defeat to Toulouse last week.
The visitors initially took the lead in the eighth minute through Charlie Staines, capitalising on a break by Aispuro-Bichet while St Helens' full-back Jack Welsby was receiving treatment. St Helens responded in the 18th minute when on-loan second-row Jed Cartwright scored from a Jackson Hastings chip kick. However, Catalans regained their advantage through Nick Cotric before the break, with further tries for the Dragons disallowed, including efforts from Lewis Dodd and Ben Condon.
The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum, with St Helens scoring three times in the opening eight minutes. Tristan Sailor set up Campbell for his first try, followed by scores from Robertson and Welsby, both assisted by Tom Humphreys. Although Cotric managed a second try for Catalans, Campbell secured his brace on the hour mark, and Robertson sealed the victory with a jinking score in the closing moments.
This crucial win moves St Helens up to fifth in the Super League table, now six points adrift of leaders Leeds Rhinos. For Catalans Dragons, the defeat marks their fourth in a row and their eleventh of the season, significantly diminishing their hopes of securing a play-off spot. The performance by a patched-up St Helens side demonstrated resilience and depth, particularly with the emergence of young talent like Campbell.