Super League: St Helens miss chance to move top after shock Castleford loss with Jason Qareqar scoring hat-trick

St Helens' hopes of heading back to the Betfred Super League summit were shattered by a revitalised Castleford side who ran in five tries in the OneBore Stadium sunshine to complete a 30-10 win that was as emphatic as it was unexpected.

The visitors had arrived in West Yorkshire on the back of five straight league wins but served up a flat and error-strewn performance from the opening moments as the inspired hosts - boosted by a hat-trick from winger Jason Qareqare - ran riot.

Saints were simply abject in the opening period and it got no better after the break. Jack Welsby, still playing outside his regular full-back role in the half-backs, coughed up a series of costly errors, while both Welsby and Jackson Hastings endured spells in the sin bin.

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The visitors looked flat from the opening moments as the hosts grasped the initiative, with full-back Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e - so impressive in last week's win at York - once again integral to his side's attacking threat.

His neat pass out to the right found Qareqare, who shrugged off three Saints players including Tristan Sailor to career over in the corner, and soon afterwards he was almost at the heart of a Castleford second as Krystian Mapapalangi fumbled the ball after a near one-two.

Saints' first foray forward ended when Welsby flopped a poor pass towards Owen Dagnall, and Welsby's careless error at the play-the-ball on the subsequent set sapped what there was left of his side's attacking intent.

Laulu-Togaga'e's looping pass sent Semi Valemei over on the right but replays ruled the Fiji international had dropped the ball before grounding, and for all their territorial dominance the hosts reached the half-hour mark a mere four points to the good.

Tom Weaver dropped the ball with the try-line seemingly at his mercy, but steadied himself to kick Castleford two points further clear after Welsby's infraction, and Qareqare dived acrobatically in for his second just before the break after a searing counter-attack started by Laulu-Togaga'e.

It got worse for Saints six minutes after the interval when Brock Greacen surged through a gap to score Castleford's third, with Weaver's first successful conversion of the day extending their lead to 16-0.

Saints belatedly responded when Lewis Murphy tore into the left corner, but they were architects of their own demise moments later as Dagnall fumbled from the restart and Qareqare zoomed over in the corner to complete his hat-trick.

Castleford maintained their momentum with Tyler Dupree clattering through the Saints line before two further penalties from Weaver shunted the home side further clear.

Welby's day to forget was complete when his error set up Ashton Golding to flop over and seal the points, and after Jackson Hastings became the second Saints player to be sin-binned, Dagnall grabbed a consolation try at the death.

2026 Super League - key dates and what to look out for

• Super League in Paris: Sat June 6: Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6.30pm UK (Sky Sports)
• Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
• Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
• Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
• Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
• Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.

Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season - including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Super League: St Helens miss chance to move top after shock Castleford loss with Jason Qareqar scoring hat-trick