A Wiganer turned Saint: Tommy Makinson knows the importance of Good Friday derby

Tommy Makinson was born and raised in Wigan, but is somewhat of a legend in St Helens.

There aren’t many in a better position to know just how much the Good Friday derby means to people on either side of Billinge Hill than Makinson.

The 31-year-old was born in Ince and played his junior rugby for Hindley and Wigan St Judes before joining St Helens’ famous academy as a teenager.

Makinson is a one-club man, winning five Super League titles and a Challenge Cup in the Red V.

The England international has played in many a Good Friday derby, and knows what it means to both towns.

“I grew up in Wigan and was a Wigan supporter,” Makinson told Love Rugby League. “My parents and grandparents were all Wigan supporters.

“It’s a crazy day in my calendar and the rugby league calendar.

“I grew up in Hindley so my mates are all Wigan as well. It’s a day that’s about winning. We used to play at quarter past 12 and now we play at three 0’clock. If you win, you are buzzing.

“For rugby league and Saints and Wigan, it’s the biggest isn’t it? You always look for it. No matter where you are at the beginning of the season, it’s like ‘are we at Wigan or at home?’ so I just can’t wait for it.

“This is the game. Wigan holds 25,000 and Saints bring ridiculous numbers, our away support is absolutely amazing. It’s massive for us.

“We are trying to grow the game and get more people in to it. You can be having a pint with your partner and your kids or your friends and there’ll be Saints fans mingling (with Wiganers) and there’ll be no trouble come kick-off and that’s why rugby league is great and for me, that’s why Wigan and Saints is the biggest.”

Tommy Makinson loves derby week

The Saints speedster says his phone gets bombarded on derby week.

He laughed: “It’s one of them games that I’ll have to tell my mum and dad they need to buy tickets because you only get a couple of tickets for being an away group!

“You have that many family and friends who want to come, if the lads another 5,000 tickets to give away to family and friends then you probably would give them all away. I’ll have to deal with that in the week first, never mind the game!

“Friends and family will text me asking for tickets and they know full well I can’t! But with my missus and my own family now, they are the first ones and then there’s 100 people after that who have to fight for whatever is remaining. It’s a good problem to have though, these are the games.

“You don’t have to do anything this week apart from train well and worry about doing your job. If you can’t get up for these games, then it’s pointless playing.”

Not taking anything for granted

More than 23,000 tickets have been sold for this year’s Good Friday derby, the first one back at the DW Stadium since 2019.

At 31, Tommy Makinson says these are the games he cherishes as he enters the twilight of his career.

He added: “It’s just a massive occasion and I think the older you get, the more excited you get as well.

“It’s crazy, the last time we played this game (at the DW) I was like 27. We’ve not had a game for four years at Wigan. It’s crazy.

“Wello (Paul Wellens) did a speech before the Word Club Challenge saying ‘if you think of the players who have played for St Helens, there are 1,200 players who’ve played for St Helens, if there’s a game them 1,200 players could do again then it’d be a World Club Challenge or a Good Friday’. These are the games that mean more than anything else.

“When you are coming to your late 20s or early 30s, James Roby who is 37 and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook the same, you never know when it can be your last game.

“These games are the biggest for you, your family and your friends. You want to go and make an impact and let it be a special day. You certainly don’t want to lose so its exciting.

“Its a great week, its a great build-up, everywhere you go people are just giving that extra bit. I love it, this is why I play the game.”

Sky Sports will televise the Wigan-St Helens derby on Good Friday, 3pm kick-off.

READ NEXT: A rivalry with respect: Peet and Wellens exchange classy words ahead of derby