Leeds Rhinos’ lead at the top of the Super League Super 8s table was reduced to two points when they suffered a 32-18 loss at home to St Helens on Friday.

Fans at Headingley welcomed their heroes as they returned to league action following their Challenge Cup triumph at Wembley just six days earlier.

The Rhinos racked up a record-breaking 50 points against Hull KR in the final but they were unable to continue this form into the league as some sloppiness crept into their game.

Saints were in the mood to take full advantage and tries from Tommy Makinson, Josh Jones, Luke Walsh, Adam Quinlan and Jon Wilkin were all converted by Walsh to take them on to victory.

The win means St Helens are likely to finish in the top four and a victory in their next game against Castleford, who currently lie four points behind them in sixth, will make sure they progress to the semi-finals.

Leeds’s loss gave Wigan the chance to narrow the gap at the top and they duly obliged with a 42-16 win against Catalans on Saturday.

Matty Bowen was once again in top form as the Warriors cruised to victory at The Den in south-east London, as the club sacrificed a home game in order to build on their support in the capital.

Wigan’s rugby director Kris Radlinski explained part of the reasoning behind the decision to play the game there.

“Although we’ve not been hugely successfully in London as a sport, the Wigan brand is strong down there,” said the former Wigan full-back.

“Going to Wembley nine times on the bounce and things like that have created a legacy which has made Wigan rugby league a household brand in places like London.”

Radlinski also went on to praise Millwall FC and commented that games like this are important if the sport is to continue growing.

“Millwall have been unbelievably supportive of it from start to finish and they’ve been great to work with. We never want to be a sport which wants to survive. We want to push it further.

“I know certainly, us as a club, we don’t want to just survive. We want to keep growing.”

Wigan’s win meant they secured their own spot in the semi-finals with three games to go and their sights will now be set on catching Leeds at the top of the table in an attempt to claim the League Leaders Shield.

In the other games of the round, Huddersfield defeated Castleford by 40 points to 26 with impressive winger Jermaine McGillvary crossing for two tries, and a Kevin Penny hat-trick helped Warrington cruise to a 46-16 win at Home to Hull FC.

Castleford Tigers are the only side from this group of four who are in with a chance of a top four finish, but it’s a very slim one.