There is rarely a shortage of emotion and passion in this particular part of the rugby league world but even by the usually high standards set in Hull, this was a night many, least of all their head coach, will never forget.

On any other night, the headline would be St Helens producing another impressive statement of their title credentials to go top of Super League. But this was no ordinary night: perhaps underlined not necessarily by the action on the field, but by what transpired after Saints’ win over Hull FC.

As the game ebbed into its closing moments, the big screen inside the MKM Stadium panned to Hull’s coach, John Cartwright. What followed was a stadium-wide round of applause despite his side heading for a fifth league defeat in eight games. At full time, hundreds – if not thousands – stayed to applaud Cartwright once again as he conducted his media duties.

This was a show of unity from Hull FC’s fans towards their coach, just as their spirited defeat by Saints was from Cartwright’s players. The reason for such emotion? This had all the hallmarks of the Australian’s last stand in charge of Hull after a tumultuous 10 days. Things are rarely straightforward in Hull, but this has been eye-watering.

The Black and Whites confirmed last week that Cartwright would leave at the end of the season. He responded on Monday by saying he felt “betrayed and disrespected” by the club’s lack of communication over that decision, with Hull already understood to have agreed a deal to bring the former Catalans coach, Steve McNamara, in next year.

It was an extraordinary tirade against his employers, who probably did not have enough time to act on those words with this game just days away. Now, with time to consider whether an early parting of the ways is the best course of action, Cartwright may have actually coached Hull for the final time.

“I honestly don’t know,” Cartwright said when asked what happens next. “I’ll let the dust settle on that. I’ve got a couple of meetings early next week and then we’ll find out. They’re very passionate fans and they’ll have their opinion on something and they’ll make it known. It means a lot to me to see it.”

Visibly lifted in a show of strength towards their coach, Hull were superb in the first half, leading 12-6 by the break thanks to tries for Logan Moy and Amir Bourouh. But Saints, brittle in recent seasons, are made of sterner stuff this year and they deserve credit for navigating an emotionally charged evening to go top of the table.

Paul Rowley is on the final shortlist to become England coach this autumn and this latest display underlined the fine job he has done at St Helens. To have this side top with so many injury problems is to Rowley’s and his players’ credit; the signs look positive that the Saints can be among the leading contenders when the business end arrives this autumn.

“The boys are ready for a rest so we’ll have a weekend off because that was a tough game,” he said. “It was a good, gritty performance from our boys.” They kept Hull to just a solitary Zak Hardaker penalty after the break, and emerged deserved victors after tries for Noah Stephens, Kyle Feldt and Harry Robertson.

The latter two of those tries came in the final quarter when Hull, down on bodies due to their own injuries and perhaps emotionally drained after a bruising few days shrouded in uncertainty, simply ran out of steam. That meant by the end, victory for the Saints felt like the right outcome.

But the final act of this night belonged to Cartwright who, after his media duties, walked down the tunnel with his players in one last show of unity. His players have displayed how they feel: now it is down to Hull’s hierarchy to show their hand.