SL Preview: Wigan v St Helens
Wigan will get their first chance to gain a measure of revenge for defeat in last season’s Grand Final to St Helens at Old Trafford.
Shaun Wane’s squad is boosted by the return of prop forwards Dom Crosby, who has recovered from a knee injury, and Ryan Sutton, who has shaken off the effects of concussion.
Another player coming back from concussion is St Helens‘ England dummy half James Roby, but there are some key absentees from Keiron Cunningham‘s squad.
Travis Burns is absent after his face took a real battering against Hull KR, while Atelea Vea misses out with a shoulder injury.
Joe Greenwood returns, however, to boost Cunningham’s pack options, while Paul Wellens is also included, to offer versatility, reliability and experience.
Prediction: Saints will want to get back to winning ways after last week’s defeat at Hull KR. Wigan will be equally determined to make sure that that doesn’t happen. Saints to win a fiery battle by two points.
Wigan Warriors (19-man squad): Bateman, Burgess, Clubb, Crosby, C Farrell, L Farrell, Gelling, Hampshire, Manfredi, McIlorum, Mossop, Patrick, Sarginson, Smith, Sutton, Tautai, J. Tomkins, L. Tomkins, Williams.
St Helens (19-man squad): Makinson, Turner, Jones, Swift, Masoe, Roby, Amor, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Walmsley, Flanagan, Hohaia, Thompson, Richards, Wellens, Greenwood, Dawson, Savelio, Ashworth.
Stats:
Wigan’s Joe Burgess has scored a try in each of the Warriors’ last three meetings with St Helens.
St Helens‘ Tom Makinson has scored tries in the Saints’ last three meetings with Wigan (2-2-1).
Michael McIlorum needs one appearance to reach 200 for his career. McIlorum has played 190 games for Wigan since 2007, to go with representative appearances for England (6 games, 2011-2013) and Ireland (3 games, 2008).
Larne Patrick needs two appearances to reach 150 for his career. Patrick has played 8 games for Wigan in 2015, to go with appearances for Huddersfield (137 games, 2009-2014) and Wales (3 games, 2013).
Jon Wilkin needs three tries to reach a career century of touchdowns. His total of 97 has been scored as follows: 8 for Hull KR (2000-2002), 88 for St Helens (2003-2015) and 1 for England (2004-2005, 2008-2009 & 2011-2012). Wilkin also made 6 non-scoring appearances for Great Britain (2006-2007).
Liam Farrell needs two appearances to reach 150 for Wigan. Farrell made a try-scoring Warriors debut as a substitute in a 54-14 home win against Wakefield on 5 April, 2010.
Joel Tomkins is two appearances away from 150 (148 for Wigan, 2005-2011 & 2014-2015)
Paul Wellens is one try away from 200 (199 for St Helens, 1998-2015)
Super League Summary:
Wigan won 31 (includes win in 2010 Grand Final & wins in 2001, 2003 and 2004 play-offs)
St Helens won 30 (includes wins in 2000 and 2014 Grand Finals & wins in 2000, 2002, 2009 and 2011 play-offs)
4 draws
Wigan highest score: 65-12 (A, 1997) (also widest margin)
St Helens highest score: 57-16 (MM, 2008) (also widest margin)
Last 10 meetings:
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)
St Helens 26, Wigan 18 (SLQSF, 1/10/11)