HE’S SIMM-PLY THE BEST
Golly Josh, there’s no stopping Saints’ teen sensation as he runs riot with hat-trick
TEENAGER Josh Simm began to write his own St Helens legacy as the champions brushed aside weakened Leeds.
Centre Simm is the grandson of former Saints favourite Geoff Pimblett, the first player to win the Lance Todd Trophy and Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match in the sport’s biggest matches.
Simm, 19, crossed for a hattrick inside the first 37 minutes to take Kristian Woolf ’s side a step closer to a third straight League Leaders Shield.
Deputising again for the injured Mark Percival, Simm showed terrific footwork and f inishing ski l l s in an accomplished all-round display.
It helped to comfortably account for a Rhinos team that included just four members of the side that lifted the Challenge Cup at Wembley seven days earlier.
Leeds coach Richard Agar heavily rotated his team as they start a run of six matches in just 17 days. His young charges rarely faltered in their efforts but were out-gunned by a Saints side that still looks a class above the rest of Super League on their day. They are certainties to be involved in the top- four play- offs while the Rhinos need to regroup quickly if they want to mount a genuine tilt at the Grand Final. They were behind from the third minute when Simm produced an outstanding finish.
Not even a sin-bin stint for in-form prop Alex Walmsley’s crusher tackle could restrict Saints, with James Roby creating a try for Zeb Taia while they were down to 12 men.
Simm then shrugged off an attempted tackle from Callum McLelland for his second, before completing a first- half treble after
Regan Grace’s midfield break. At 22-0 the writing looked on the wall for the Rhinos but they responded well after the restart.
Agar’s side fully deserved the only try of the third quarter when Cameron Smith took McLelland’s pass to crash over.
And although Saints then hit them with a 12-point blitz in three minutes – Theo Fages and Kevin Naiqama scoring excellent tries – again Leeds refused to fold.
Young winger Liam Tindall finished smart work from Sam Walters and the Rhinos will take plenty out of the game despite defeat.
Saints completed the scoring through young hooker Aaron Smith and their bid to retain their title now sees them face Salford on Monday.