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Sean Long was simply breathtaking as Saints displayed some of their greatest rugby league of the season to batter Wigan 57-16.

The former Wiganer scored 27 points – including an excellent hat-trick – as his charges brushed aside their greatest rivals in a one sided wonder show at the Millennium Stadium.

Saints were simply too hot for their counterparts they ran in 35 unanswered points in the first half, then continued to dominate throughout the second.

But it would be wrong not to pay tribute to the full 17 who put in their most complete performance of many a year against the Warriors.

Pre-game for Saints, Leon Pryce returned alongside Paul Wellens and Mike Bennett took a spot on the bench.

Jon Wilkin and Jason Cayless were also named after taking knocks in the win over Warrington.

Wigan named an expected line up but missed Phil Bailey as well as Mark Calderwood.

Before the game Saints’ mascot Boots won his heat of Mascot Magic with a belting sprint to destroy the competition – an omen?

And it was the Warriors who kicked off with the pyrotechnics which greeted both teams’ arrival having barely cleared the stadium.

Wigan had the first chance of the game when they got a set, through a penalty, in Saints’ 20. But an excellent James Graham tackle dislodged the ball and kept the line more than intact.

Minutes later it was Saints’ first chance to attack the Wigan line.

After a couple of smart drives, Cunningham, Long, Pryce and Cayless combined to send Matt Gidley close, before the ball was worked back left for Long jink over; converting his own score seconds later.

Long then kicked smart to keep the Warriors in their own 20.

On 13 minutes, Gardner took a nicely weighted kick from Leuluai to quell any danger.

And from there, on the same set, Saints worked the ball to Wilkin who flew through a gap before handing off the Mathers and plonking down just to the right of the sticks. Long converting. Plaudits to Cayless though for providing a wonder pass for Wilkin to power through.

Quarter of an hour in, 12-0, and quite simply exactly what the Saints deserved for their possession, attacking play and hot defence.

And four minutes later Meli gave Saints a stranglehold on the game after he picked up an O’Loughlin offload – going 60 yards to put the ball down. The video ref confirming the score even though Talau looked to have got something on the offload to take it into the arms of the winger – who looked to be stood accidentally in front of his centre man.

Either way, it was 18-0 and Saints were on their way.

On 27 minutes and with Saints on Wigan’s line, Leuluai deflected a Long grubber to give the men in Blue another six. And they made Wigan pay once more flipping the ball to and throe before Matt Gidley chipped perfectly ahead for Gardner to score. Simply magic and sublime thinking from the former Newcastle Knight. Long unlucky with the extras.

And then Talau was in at the corner following an excellent dummy move from Long.

The scrum half ran the ball on the last – feigning to kick before releasing Gilmour who drew Colborn in perfectly before letting Talau do the rest. Long then slotted a wonder kick off the touchline to rub salt further into the Warriors’ wounds.

Before Wigan had chance to catch their breath, their restart was returned with interest as Pryce went through the centre feeding Long for his second - again converted.

And, if it couldn’t get any batter Wigan’s restart went out on the full and Saints had another set in their opponent’s 20. The ball was worked to Long who put over a one pointer.

Half time: Saints 35 Wigan 0

Leuluai got the Warriors on the board with a score within the first three minutes of the second half with a weaving run under pressure.

But the revival was short-lived as Long took a pass from Gidley to notch up his hat-trick and ensure normal service was resumed!

Moments later a great tackle dislodged the ball from Fielden and Saints capitalised – Pryce linking with Wellens to send in Talau for his second. Long wide with the extras.

Gardner then scored his second after some nice passing and Long cracked up his seventh to bring the 50 up.

Hansen and Higham pulled scores back for Wigan, which Richards converted, to restore some pride, but it always was going to be too little, too late.

And so it proved as Lee Gilmour popped over after some excellent work from Graham and Wellens. Gidley with the extras.

Match Summary

Wigan:

Tries: Leuluai, Hansen, Higham

Goals: Richard (2 from 3)

Saints:

Tries: Long (3), Wilkin, Meli, Gardner (2), Talau (2), Gilmour

Goals: Long (7 from 9), Gidley (1 from 1)

Drop: Long

Penalties:

Wigan: 2

Saints: 6

HT (Sts First): 35-0

FT (Sts First): 57-16

ATT: Sunday: 32,516 Weekend: 63,144

REF: Phil Bentham

Teams:

Wigan:

1. Richard Mathers; 14. Liam Colbon, 3. Darrell Goulding, 4. George Carmont, 5. Pat Richards; 6. Trent Barrett, 7. Thomas Leuluai; 8. Stuart Fielden, 9. Mickey Higham, 19. Paul Prescott, 16. Harrison Hansen, 15. Andy Coley, 13. Sean O'Loughlin.

Subs: 10. Iafeta Paleaaesina, 22. Joel Tomkins, 24. Eamon O’Carroll, 25. Thomas Coyle.

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long; 10. Jason Cayless, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 17. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 16. Chris Flannery, 12. Jon Wilkin.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 15. Mike Bennett, 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 21. Paul Clough.