St Helens have been waiting for a performance like this. A second half display of complete and utter dominance saw them obliterate Huddersfield Giants 48-6 as Tommy Makinson scored four tries on one spectacular afternoon.
The side that have dominated the Super League for the past four seasons have made an indifferent start to this campaign but in Newcastle everything clicked in a second half to remember. They actually conceded first in the match but turned things around to go in at half-time 16-6 up.
From there, it was a performance of supremacy and brilliance as Makinson shone on the wing and Huddersfield simply couldn’t stop the rampage coming down their left-hand side. For the Giants, it now looks like their hopes of a top six finish have faded. But this is all about Saints’ resurgence on a pivotal weekend for their season.
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28 points for Makinson is a new Magic Weekend record for an individual player and his performance with the boot was as impressive as his performance with the ball in hand as he continued to score conversions from the touchline.
It seems a lifetime ago that Kevin Naiqama scored the opener. He played in three Grand Finals for St Helens and has made a wonderful start to life with the Giants. Perhaps it is fitting that he was the man to clean up after a defensive tangle and get the ball down to put his side 4-0 up. Jake Connor got his conversion on target to make it six. But that was as good as things got for Ian Watson.
However, Saints replied immediately as Jack Welsby laid one off to Konrad Hurrell and he used his size and power to batter his way over the line. The Tongan international took the initiative in that move as his side responded.St Helens got their swagger back with some crisp passing that saw Mark Percival cross after Welsby got his 10th try assist of the year with a beautiful off-load. Their slow start was a distant memory as they hit the front.
Luke Yates was sent to the sin bin after a bad third-man tackle which was completely unnecessary and Greenwood was knocked out on the field after a head clash but managed to recover to walk off the pitch.
Welsby fizzed the ball wide to the touchline where Makinson was waiting and he flew down the wing before executing a perfect diving finish right into the corner. 301 Saints appearances for Makinson, and another try that would contribute to one of the best displays we have seen at St James’ Park.
It was only 16-6 at half-time, but Saints would turn up the heat after the break. 37-year-old Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook showed wonderful speed and power to hold off two Huddersfield challenges as he broke through the defence in his 12th Magic Weekend appearance. This could be his last season, and he made a cracking impact at the start of the second period here.
Tommy Makinson got his second and then converted to put St Helens 28-6 up before Hurrell then joined him with a brace. This was Saints at their very best. They came out in the second half with something to prove in the sunshine and as their passing began to click in the final third, they tore Huddersfield apart time and time again.
Paul Wellens’ side were making it look so easy and Makinson scored the same try yet again to complete his hat-trick. They shifted the ball to the right and with every pass Huddersfield began to panic. Meanwhile, Makinson, who was on fire, finished with aplomb to complete his 12th hat-trick before scoring another conversion from the touchline.
Four tries in 17 second half minutes - this was Saints at their very best. A few minutes later, he did exactly the same thing. Four tries for Makinson. With seven minutes to play, St Helens scored the best try of the weekend. Welsby ran half the length of pitch before getting the offload away to Makinson and he gave a spectacular offload to Joey Lussick, who had the speed to get away in the corner.
The best performance of the Super League season for St Helens. Four wins in a row and a record-breaking day for Tommy Makinson.
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