Magic Weekend: St Helens 30-31 Catalans – James Maloney’s golden-point drop-goal seals title

Catalans Dragons pulled off one of the most stunning comebacks in sporting history as they came from 30-12 down with four minutes left to beat St Helens at St James’ Park.

But he only got the chance after three quickfire Catalans tries from Dean Whare, Gil Dudson and Sam Kasiano.

Lachlan Coote missed a drop for Saints before Maloney’s long-range winner.

With just two games left, Dragons’ 19th victory in 21 Super League games this season increases their win percentage from 90 to 90.48 per cent, while Saints drops from 83.33 to 78.95

But, even if Catalans lost their last two games, they would only drop to 82.60, while two Saints wins would only lift them to 80.95.

Catalans got off to a flier in Newcastle when Sam Tomkins went over to open the scoring and was then illegally tackled high by Mark Percival, whose yellow card reduced Saints to 12 men.

But, despite still being a body down, Coote created the space for Tommy Makinson to score in the right corner on 14 minutes.

On 20 minutes, within four minutes of returning to the fray, Percival then sets up Coote for a second try, this one being converted by the Australian full-back to put Saints 10-6 up.

Saints then strode clear just before the break when, in the space of three minutes, Mata’utia got over for his first try, Coote converted, Catalans had prop Sam Kasiano sinbinned and Coote added two more points when James Maloney was penalised for a shoulder charge.

Having gone in 18-6 up at the interval, a second try for Mata’utia and then a fifth Saints try from Morgan Knowles, either side of a converted Julian Bousquet try, stretched the reigning Super League champions three converted scores clear at 30-12.

But Catalans had a sting in the tail, triggered by Whare in the 75th minute.

Dudson then got on the end of a nice to move to add another with a minute and a half left.

Kasiano then completed the comeback as he held a high bomb to crash over the line, allowing Maloney to take the game to extra time with the third of his three successful late conversions.

Even then the drama was only just beginning.

Samisoni Langi was stretchered off after a challenge by Agnatius Pa’asi which left him being taken to hospital and Saints’ Tongan forward in the sin bin.

It was Saints full-back Coote who had first chance to win it but he missed, and, in the final minutes of golden-point extra time, Maloney’s low 40-metre effort crept over to clinch an historic victory.

St Helens: Coote; Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace; Welsby, Dodd; Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Mata’utia, Bentley, Knowles.

Interchanges: Amor, Pa’asi, Batchelor, Wingfield.

Sin-bin: Percival (6), Langi (GP+5).

Catalans Dragons: S Tomkins; Davies, Whare, Langi, Yaha; Maloney, Drinkwater; Bousquet, McIlorum, Dezaria, Whitley, McMeeken, Goudemand.

Interchanges: Mourgue, Dudson, J Tomkins, Kasiano.

Sin-bin: Kasiano (37).

Referee: Liam Moore (RFL).