A FEW loose ends were tied up in round 22 of Super League and the top eight is all but decided with one round remaining.

The game week opened on Thursday when rivals Saints and Warrington squared off at the home of the Wolves. It was another entertaining match, decided in the final minutes of the game when Jordan Turner crossed for the visitors. Luke Walsh slotted the conversion between the posts to give St Helens a 20-14 win. James Roby was impressive throughout, crossing bravely for an early try and leading the side to victory from the middle of the park.

Friday’s big city derby between the Hull sides would go a long way to deciding which of the pair would make the top eight.

Just two points separated the teams going into the game, but two tries apiece from Steve Michaels and powerful winger Tom Lineham saw Hull FC secure the top-eight spot with a 22-12 win.

Hull KR are two points behind Catalans Dragons, who lie eighth, but it would need a Rovers win, a Catalans loss and a significant turnaround in points difference for the Hull side to make the top eight.

This situation arose as Catalans were defeated 14-12 by Huddersfield in France on Saturday. Both sides scored two converted tries, but a Jamie Ellis penalty gave the visitors the win.

Two other games which had a bearing on the top eight were Wigan’s 20-10 win at home to Widnes, and Salford’s crushing 70-6 loss away to Leeds. These results mean that both Salford and Widnes will have to battle it out in the middle-eight group to retain their status as Super League clubs next season.

This weekend’s other fixture saw Castleford pile up the points against Wakefield in a 58-20 win. Tigers winger Justin Carney crossed for four tries, taking his season total to 15 and his side remain within reach of the top four.