SAINTS have bounced back to winning ways with an emphatic five-try win over newly crowned cup holders Leeds.

A massive physical effort, led by a skipper’s knock from fit-again Jon Wilkin, was just what was needed to show the champions intend to put up a defence of this title.

The win came as massive relief more than anything after Saints’ false start in losing their first three matches of the Super 8s.

It was just the performance Keiron Cunningham’s men needed and a strong physical performance laid the platform for the win that has made the team’s chances of securing a place in the knockout stages even more likely.

Saints left out Mose Masoe for the first time since he first pulled on a red vee at the start of last season.

They put their faith in young prop Andre Savelio, and both he and Kyle Amor started well, with some real physical intent backed up by the back row.

In previous meetings between the sides this year the Rhinos have blown Saints away early doors, but there was no repetition of that tonight.

Saints kicked much smarter for a start, making stand in full back Ashton Golding, cover plenty of ground.

And they met the Leeds ball carriers more aggressively, putting them to ground.

They forced errors too, and on three minutes the first of those from Danny McGuire was scooped up with the ball flashed right where Tommy Makinson was able to slide in at the corner.

Luke Walsh ignored the barracking from the South Stand to stroke the touchline conversion through the aitches.

Saints had to defend their line after a Leeds penalty gave them good field position and Travis Burns and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook did well to stop Ashton Golding from grounding.

Jon Wilkin then dislodged the ball for a line-bound Adam Cuthbertson to stop a score.

Leeds temporarily lost Jamie Peacock with a head knock, but their old warhorse was soon back in the thick of it.

Saints’ kick chase was good and Adam Swift was unlucky to fumble the ball after just about winning the chase.

Leeds levelled after Jimmy Keinhorst shrugged off Swift’s tackle and then evaded the cover to cross, with Kevin Sinfield goaling.

But Saints’ response was swift if a little fortuitous. A sloppy James Roby pass skidded across the floor, but then a Leeds ricochet from a hand was picked up and eventually Walsh was able to unleash Josh Jones.

The big centre dummied and then drove over for a four-pointer given the nod by the video ref.

Walsh made it six for a 12-6 lead and then added a penalty.

After having the lion’s share of the play in the first half, Saints could consider themselves unfortunate to have only gone in two points up after Mitch Achurch was adjudged to have grounded the ball by a blade of grass.

Saints regained their grip on the game after Luke Walsh zipped over after a wonder break by Swift.

And, playing with more flair and less anxiety than in recent weeks, Saints stayed on top, Walsh and Roby combined to send speedy full back Adam Quinlan dashing over to make it 26-12.

The game looked like it was all over when Jordan Turner thought he had touched down.

Alas, the ball had come loose and the video ref ruled no try.

Whether that affected Saints, but a brief mental switch-off allowed Sinfield to put Ryan Hall over for a long-range effort to put it back in the boiling pot.

But backed by a magnificently vocal travelling support, Saints dug in and Wilkin put the icing on the cake when he was alert to Alex Walmsley’s smuggled offload from the floor to gather and touch down.

Walsh added the extras to make the final score 32-18 and restore some real belief going into the business end.