SL Preview: St Helens v Wigan
St Helens welcome a resurgent Wigan to Langtree Park, with the Warriors having followed up their Magic Weekend win over Leeds with a victory at Huddersfield last week.
Tommy Makinson and Luke Thompson are absent with injury for St Helens, with youngsters Lewis Charnock, Matty Dawson and Jack Ashworth coming into Keiron Cunningham‘s group.
Wigan’s Welsh international prop Ben Flower looks like facing St Helens for the first time since his controversial appearance in last year’s Grand Final, when he knocked out Lance Hohaia.
Prediction: Almost to close to call, home advantage means Saints will edge it by four to six points.
St Helens (19-man squad): Turner, Jones, Swift, Burns, Masoe, Roby, Amor, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Walmsley, Flanagan, Percival, Richards, Dawson, Savelio, Charnock, Ashworth, Davies, Fleming, McDonnell.
Wigan (19-man squad): Bateman, Bowen, Burgess, Charnley, Crosby, L Farrell, Flower, Hampshire, McIlorum, Mossop, O’Loughlin, Patrick, Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Sutton, Tautai, J Tomkins, Williams.
Stats:
Wigan’s Joe Burgess has scored a try in each of the Warriors’ last four meetings with St Helens. He has also scored tries in the Warriors’ last seven matches (3-3-1-1-1-1-1). Burgess is Super League‘s leading try scorer this season with 17.
Dan Sarginson needs one appearance to reach 100 for his career. Sarginson has played 45 games for Wigan since 2014, and previously made 50 appearances for London Broncos/Harlequins (2011-2013). He has also played representative games for England (two, 2014) and England Knights (two, 2012).
Jon Wilkin needs two tries to reach a career century of touchdowns. His total of 98 has been scored as follows: eight for Hull KR (2000-2002), 89 for St Helens (2003-2015) and one for England (2004-2005, 2008-2009 & 2011-2012). Wilkin also made six non-scoring appearances for Great Britain (2006-2007).
Mose Masoe has the longest run of consecutive appearances amongst Super League players, with 48. Masoe made his Saints debut as a substitute in a 38-18 win against Hull KR at Langtree Park on March 7, 2014. He is an ever-present in the St Helens side since then.
Super League Summary:
St Helens won 30 (includes wins in 2000 and 2014 Grand Finals & wins in 2000, 2002, 2009 and 2011 play-offs)
Wigan won 32 (includes win in 2010 Grand Final & wins in 2001, 2003 and 2004 play-offs)
Four draws
St Helens highest score: 57-16 (MM, 2008) (also widest margin)
Wigan highest score: 65-12 (A, 1997) (also widest margin)
Last 10 Meetings:
Wigan 12, St Helens 4 (SLR8, 3/4/15)
St Helens 14, Wigan 6 (SLGF, 11/10/14) (at Old Trafford, Manchester)
Wigan 12, St Helens 16 (SLR18, 27/6/14)
St Helens 14, Wigan 33 (SLR9, 18/4/14)
St Helens 22, Wigan 16 (SLR22, 22/7/13)
Wigan 28, St Helens 16 (SLR9, 29/3/13)
Wigan 18, St Helens 26 (SLR27, 7/9/12)
St Helens 16, Wigan 42 (SLR15, 27/5/12) (at Etihad Stadium, Manchester)
Wigan 18, St Helens 4 (CCQF, 12/5/12)
St Helens 10, Wigan 28 (SLR10, 6/4/12)