TWO tries from Saints full-back Ben Barba could not lift disappointing Saints, whose error-strewn display brought an end to their 100 per cent record.

Coach Justin Holbrook said: "It's disappointing, that's for sure.

"I thought we created enough chances in the first half.

"I thought we were a bit unlucky at times - Tommy Makinson got over the line and couldn't ground the ball.

“In the second half Leeds took their chances and full credit to them. They are a tough team to play against and they showed it tonight.

“Too many guys didn’t play well enough and are understandably disappointed – and they should be. Some individuals didn’t perform the way they should and when you do that you get what you deserve.

“James Roby and Benny Barba were fantastic but too many others weren’t and that is why we didn’t win the game.

“They worked harder than us, were hungrier and beat us to the punch. That was disappointing.”

“We had some guys doing things that they don’t normally do. They decided to try some other things and do other people’s jobs and it got us in trouble.

“We’ll bounce back though and work hard to put things right.”

Leeds coach Brian McDermott praised his side's resilience despite being second best for long periods.

They defended strongly to keep themselves in contention and clinched victory with two tries in six minutes from centre Ash Handley in the final quarter.

"There was better stuff we could do in offence, at times it looked pretty clunky," McDermott said.

"I was pretty disappointed with the first half, you can't come to St Helens and offer tame offence. But we certainly turned it up.

"We were just willing to keep putting our bodies in front of Saints.

"My old coach Peter Fox used to say 'if you are willing to tackle the opposition to death you have a chance of winning games' and I thought that's what we did against Saints.

"I don't think we were crash hot and I won't say it was a really good performance - it won't get us anywhere near the Grand Final - but what it has done is put some steel into you.

"To know we can come here with a lesser team, and by tenacious defence and great attitude still get a win.

"We were without four big men but Brad Singleton and Anthony Mullally put in big shifts tonight and I've got to pay tribute to Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Brett Delaney and Carl Ablett, they got through so much work."