St Helens thumped Super League and World Club champions Leeds 46-6 in their first match since the sacking of coach Royce Simmons.
Former New Zealand Warrior Lance Hohaia scored his first Super League as St Helens gained some revenge on Leeds for last season’s grand final defeat.
Starting life without Simmons at the helm after his dismissal last weekend, St Helens were looking for something new as they went in search of a first win in six games under caretaker mentor Mike Rush.
And they got the answer they were after as they overpowered Leeds to go into half-time with a 28-0 ahead with Kiwi Hohaia getting the ball rolling with a superb cross-field kick for Ade Gardner to score a try in the opening minutes.
Man-of-the-match Hohaia touched down as the Saints extended their lead in the second half to hand the Rhinos just a second defeat of the season.
Gardner, Jonny Lomax and Gary Wheeler all helped themselves to try doubles, captain Paul Wellens also scoring for the Saints, with Leeds only able to reply with a solitary try from Zak Hardaker.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Michael Dobson starred as Hull KR inflicted just a second defeat of the season on Huddersfield Giants, running out 40-22 winners.
Dobson weighed in with six goals and five assists, including one for Mickey Paea, as the Giants missed a chance to go back to the top of the table.
Meanwhile Isaac John scored six goals to help the Wakefield Wildcats hold off a spirited comeback from Catalans Dragons and record a 32-22 home triumph.
Ex-Newcastle Knight Scott Dureau and former St George Illawarra Dragon Clint Greenshields crossed for the French side but couldn’t stave off defeat.
Two tries from Joel Moon and one for Luke Patten propelled Salford City Reds to a 38-18 away win over Bradford Bulls, with Daniel Holdsworth chipping in with five goals.
In the basement battle, Cameron Phelps scored a dramatic winning try to help Widnes move off the bottom of the table with a hard-fought 38-30 victory over London Broncos.
Castleford replaced Widnes at the bottom with a 42-28 loss to Hull, despite tries from Nick Youngquest and Grant Millington, as Sam Moa and Willie Manu helped seal victory for the visitors.
Meanwhile, on Friday, a late penalty from full-back Brett Hodgson handed Warrington a 22-20 victory at Wigan.
It looked like being a night to remember for Pat Richards as he scored a try and kicked two goals to reach 2,000 points for the Warriors.
But Warrington twice fought back from six points behind, winger Joel Monaghan scoring one of three tries to set the stage for Hodgson’s late heroics, securing victory with as the clock ticked down.
