‘We worked our arses off!’ – Sailor savours ‘Wide to Wright’ stunner

Just over 25 years on from Chris Joynt's iconic 'Wide to West' try, St Helens pulled off another late show in the elimination play-offs; Shane Wright got the crucial try after a 16-pass attack which sealed a 16-14 win and a place in the Betfred Super League semi-finals; Tristan Sailor played a crucial role in the try, but was happy to leave others to come up with the name it will be known by from now on

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Marc Bazeley
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Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com - 27/09/2025 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League Eliminator - Leeds Rhinos v St Helens - AMT Headingley, Leeds, England - St Helens' Tristan Sailor and Matt Whitley celebrate victory over Leeds.

WHETHER it comes to be known as ‘Wide to Wright’, ‘Left to Wright’ or some other variation of that, it will forever be remembered as one of the most sensational moments in St Helens’, and the Betfred Super League’s, history.

Down 14-12 to Leeds Rhinos in the elimination play-off with the final hooter having already sounded, Saints put together a scintillating 16-pass off-the-cuff attack which ended with Shane Wright – only signed from Salford Red Devils on August 29 – powering through for the game-clinching try.

One of the key architects was Tristan Sailor, who pulled off a stunning reverse pass to his left which set the final stages of the move in motion following a mazy carry by Harry Robertson, and he hailed the attitude which lived up to the old cliché: Never write of the Saints.

“I think it went through so many sets of hands, and whenever Harry Robbo has got the ball you know something dangerous is going to happen,” Sailor, who lined up at full-back for the match, told BBC Five Live Sports Extra.

“I just hung around him and managed to get the ball out and it’s just amazing for the boys – and Shane Wright, second game for club, scores the match-winner.

“Our scramble is awesome so it always works. We had to work our arses off, but we did well.”

St Helens, who finished the regular season fifth, now face a trip to table-toppers Hull KR in Saturday’s semi-final with a place in the grand final at Old Trafford on the line.

The 10-time Super League champions have been beaten three times by the Robins already this year and out-scored by aggregate total of 66-22 in those losses.

Nevertheless, Sailor believes they can replicate the type of display from the victory at AMT Headingley.

“We knew we knew we had the end of our season, and managed to get through and go to Hull KR next week,” Sailor said.

“Clean a few things up, and we’ll be back better than ever.

“We just stuck in there and got through it at the end.”

The win came five days after the 25th anniversary of Chris Joynt’s iconic ‘Wide to West’ try which snatched an improbable eliminator win over Bradford Bulls at St Helens’ old Knowsley Road home – a season in which they also went on to triumph in the Super League grand final.

As for the present day though, Sailor was happy to defer to others when it came to what this moment will one day be described as.

“I have no idea,” he added. “I’ll give the naming rights to you guys because I’m starstruck here.”