One of the biggest games in the rugby league calendar, The Derby between St Helens and Wigan Warriors on Good Friday!
It’s town versus town. The Warriors versus the Saints. The Challenge Cup holders versus the World Club Champions. It’s Wigan facing off against St Helens in one of, if not the, biggest derbies in the sport of rugby league.
The Cherry & Whites finished second below the Red V in 2022 in what was an impressive first season in charge for Head Coach Matt Peet. The Wigan man guided his side to a dramatic late victory to win the Challenge Cup in Tottenham and they will be targeting getting back to the Grand Final at Old Trafford after falling short in a home semi-final defeat.
Although they will be without their fullback Jai Field, their squad is still very strong, highlighted by Bevan French who like Field possesses incredibly quick pace. They have added further strike to their outside backs with centres Jake Wardle from Huddersfield and Warrington loanee Toby King both joining Wigan for 2023.
St Helens and Wigan matches rarely disappoint and in 2022 we met them four times, with two losses and two wins.
LOOKING TO KEEP GOOD FOUR-M
Paul Wellens’ men have won their last three games, the latest of which was a solid 38-0 win over Wakefield Trinity last Friday night. Ahead of that victory came hard-fought battling defeats of Huddersfield Giants away and Hull FC at home.
With a game in hand due to our involvement in the World Club Challenge, St Helens ended Round 7 in fourth place in the league table, looking to build good form ahead of a busy and competitive period of the season which starts on Good Friday against one of our “nearest and dearest”.
Subscribe to Saints TV to watch the full match replay of St Helens vs Wakefield Trinity.
Matt Peet’s side edged past Huddersfield and Salford before winning the ‘Battle of the Borough’ against Leigh on Thursday evening.
OVER 5K OF THE SAINTS FAITHFUL HEADING TO THE DW
After selling out our away allocation and having it extended on three occasions, over 5,000 St Helens supporters are going to the DW Stadium on Good Friday!
The large majority of Saints fans will be based in the North Stand.
FOOD & DRINKS INFORMATION
Please note that the DW Stadium is a cashless venue and card only will be accepted.
Food counters and bars will be open on the North Stand concourse for Saints supporters on game day.
GOOD FRIDAY LAST YEAR
In front of a sold out Totally Wicked Stadium, the Saints beat Wigan Warriors 22-4 on Good Friday last year. As is the case which most Saints/Wigan clashes, it was not without plenty of talking points and fiery action!
Saints TV subscribers can watch this match back in full, as well as every game from 2022 and 2023 so far!
RECENT RECORD AGAINST THE WARRIORS
Last ten meetings
Wigan 30, St Helens 10 (SLR25, 26/8/22)
St Helens 20, Wigan 18 (SLR18, 9/7/22) (at St James’ Park, Newcastle)
St Helens 18, Wigan 20 (CCSF, 7/5/22) (at Elland Road, Leeds)
St Helens 22, Wigan 4 (SLR8, 15/4/22)
Wigan 2, St Helens 26 (SLR20, 20/8/21)
St Helens 24, Wigan 6 (SLR13, 4/7/21)
St Helens 8, Wigan 4 (SLGF, 27/11/20) (at KCOM Stadium, Hull)
St Helens 6, Wigan 18 (SLR19, 30/10/20)
Wigan 0, St Helens 42 (SLR14, 29/9/20) (at AJ Bell Stadium, Salford)
St Helens 40, Wigan 10 (SLQSF, 27/9/19)
Super League summary
St Helens and Wigan have met 100 times across all competitions in the Super League (Summer) era, and in the competition itself Saints have the lead in the head-to-head scores.
The Red V have won 46 matches, including victories in the 2000, 2004 and 2020 Grand Finals, plus play-off wins in 2000, 2002, 2009, 2011 and 2019. whilst the Cherry & Whites have got the victory 39 times. The honours have been shared in a draw just four times.
Our highest scoring Super League game against Wigan came at the Millennium Stadium for Magic Weekend back in 2008, where we put the Warriors to the sword in a 57-16 victory. Our widest ever margin of victory of the Cherry & Whites in Super League was a 42-0 win in 2020 in a behind closed doors game at the AJ Bell Stadium.
