One of the most exciting days in the rugby league calendar! The traditional Good Friday meeting between our St Helens and the old foe of Wigan Warriors.
Over 5,000 of the Saints faithful are heading over to the DW Stadium for THE DERBY!
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!
Here’s all the essential information, you need to know!
AWAY ALLOCATION SOLD OUT! PLEASE SIT IN YOUR ALLOCATED SEAT
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 – but it is hugely important supporters sit in their allocated seats.
The large majority of Saints fans will be based in the North Stand, which along with the East and West Stands is reserved seating.
Supporters MUST sit in their allocated seat as assigned on their ticket(s).
We thank supporters for their co-operation in this regard.
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.
WELLENS PREVIEWS TAKING ON THE WARRIORS
No-one needs to tell our Head Coach what this game means…
Ahead of the big game, Saints TV exclusively caught up with Paul Wellens who provided an injury update on Alex Walmsley, reflected on the Wakefield game, and reaffirmed the bond the team, the Club and the town has with over 5,000 fans heading to the DW on Friday afternoon.
Watch Paul Wellens’ game previews in full every week by becoming a Saints TV subscriber!
SQUAD NEWS
Paul Wellens makes just two changes to the squad that was named for the game against Wakefield, with Sione Mata’utia and Jake Wingfield both back in contention.
Alex Walmsley is ruled out due to a hamstring injury which he picked up at the start of last week’s game. Read more on the squad news by clicking on the image below.
Peet makes three changes to his squad following their win over Leigh, with Iain Thornley, Junior Msemba and Tom Forber included. Willie Isa misses out following a one-match ban, Jai Field and Cade Cust both miss out due to injuries.
St Helens 21-man squad
1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Will Hopoate, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Lewis Dodd, 9. James Roby, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Joey Lussick, 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 16. Curtis Sironen, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 18. Jake Wingfield, 19. James Bell, 22. Sam Royle, 23. Konrad Hurrell, 25. Tee Ritson, 30. George Delaney.
Wigan Warriors 21-man squad
2. Bevan French, 3. Toby King, 4. Jake Wardle, 5. Liam Marshall, 7. Harry Smith, 8. Brad Singleton, 9. Sam Powell, 10. Liam Bryne, 12. Liam Farrell, 13. Morgan Smithies, 14. Mike Cooper, 15. Kaide Ellis, 16. Ethan Havard, 17. Kai Pearce-Paul, 19. Joe Shorrocks, 20. Patrick Mago, 21. Iain Thornley, 22. Brad O’Neill, 23. Abbas Miski, 27. Junior Nsemba, 29. Tom Forber.
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.
A LOOK AT THE OPPOSITION…
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 to Leeds last Autumn.
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.
Heading into RIVALS ROUND (Round 8) of Betfred Super League 2023, Wigan have played seven games, winning five and having lost two.
WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?
As an away fixture St Helens will be wearing our 2023 Away Kit which has been worn only once in the league so far this year, but was worn in Australia against St George Illawarra Dragons when we won the ‘Battle of the Red V’.
In our milestone 150th year, the Saints’ strip is in our club’s traditional colours of sky blue and navy, with a classic deep V design along with some finer details, including our 150 year crest.
Pick yours up online by visiting saintssuperstore.com!
WHO WILL BE THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE?
Liam Moore will be the referee for Friday’s Derby game, and he will be supported by touch judges W. Turley and M. Craven, plus Video Referee B. Thaler.
ROBY ON “MASSIVE” GOOD FRIDAY FIXTURE
It’s a game he’s no stranger to having experienced a number of these games, and he knows the significance of the game going in not only to the towns but to the rest of our season.
See what the skipper had to say in full on Saints TV.
THE REST OF RIVALS ROUND (ROUND 8) IN SUPER LEAGUE
Friday
Hull FC VS Hull KR – 12:30pm
Saturday
Leigh Leopards VS Salford Red Devils – 2:30pm
Catalans Dragons VS Warrington Wolves – 5pm
Sunday
Leeds Rhinos VS Huddersfield Giants – 6pm
DODD: “WIGAN IS A GAME YOU ALWAYS WANT TO WIN”
Dynamic young halfback Lewis Dodd knows what it means to participate in this fixture, having played THE DERBY against Wigan through the youth ranks in the Saints’ system.
Head over to Saints TV to watch Doddy’s chat in full!
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.
TALBOT ON THE WIGAN TEST
Assistant Coach Ian Talbot was a graduate of the Wigan Academy, but after 20+ years of service to the Saints, there are no questions where his loyalties lie.
Tol spoke to Saints TV ahead of one of the biggest games in the sport of rugby league this coming Good Friday!
Like all the videos included in our Match Preview – watch them fully with a Saints TV subscription!
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAME?
Saints will be covering the match in full across our live Match Centre where you can find out the team news, follow live game updates, get behind the scenes photos and catch up on all the stories of the game.
Our club social media accounts will also keep supporters updated. Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Highlights and the full match replay will be available for Saints TV subscribers.
