Australian star Lachlan Coote produced a virtuoso performance as St Helens restored their six-point lead at the top of the English Super League with a dominant 38-2 win over Huddersfield.
Former North Queensland and Penrith fullback Coote – one of the league’s signings of the season – gave a standout display on Friday, either scoring or assisting in six of Saints’ tries as well as kicking five goals.
Tommy Makinson marked his 200th club appearance for the Saints with a hat-trick, scoring twice in the first half and again in the second as Australian Justin Holbrook’s side proved the shock defeat at bottom club London last Sunday was merely a blip.
Theo Fages and Jonny Lomax also scored two tries apiece.
After going behind to an early penalty from Oliver Russell, Saints produced a stunning spell which saw them score five tries in only 20 minutes.
Coote finished off a break from Fages to score and also added the goal before a kick through by Mark Percival was misread by the Huddersfield defence and Lomax had the simple task of touching down for the 100th time in a Saints shirt. Coote’s conversion saw Saints lead 12-2.
There was no easing up from the hosts as the mercurial Coote set up tries for Makinson and Fages in quick succession.
Coote was again on hand to deliver the final pass of a flowing attack which overstretched the Huddersfield defence with 10 minutes of the half remaining, allowing Makinson in to claim his second try. Coote’s third conversion from five made it 26-2.
It was a similar story after the restart as Saints brought the Giants to their knees with their slick passing and attacking threat on either flank.
Makinson completed his hat-trick in the 52nd minute after Fages and Coote combined on the right edge and Coote also kicked the goal.
Moments later and Saints were over for their seventh try, Fages again the provider as his break split the Huddersfield defence and the supporting Lomax scored under the posts for a try which Coote converted.
Despite Saints’ best efforts they could not add to their lead as Huddersfield’s defence held firm for the final 25 minutes.