Super League Preview: Wigan v St Helens

Jonny Lomax has lost his race to be fit for St Helens‘ derby match against Wigan on Friday at the DW Stadium.

Lomax sat out the win over Salford last weekend, and hasn’t recovered in time to line-up against the Warriors.

It’s the latest injury blow for coach Nathan Brown, who has also lost Lance Hohaia to a groin injury, and remains without forwards Tony Puletua and James Roby.

Saints have used 28 players already this season, including five debutants.

Wigan cruised to a 62-4 win over Widnes last weekend, and have no new injury concerns, with Sean O’Loughlin and Michael McIlorum both expected to shrug off knocks sustained on Saturday.

Wigan 19-man squad: Burke, Charnley, Crosby, Lloyd, Farrell, Flower, Goulding, Green, Hughes, McIlorum, O’Loughlin, Richards, Spencer, Smith, Taylor, Thornley, L Tomkins, S Tomkins, Tuson.

St Helens 19-man squad: Wellens, Gardner, Turner, Soliola, Meli, Perry, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wilkin, Manu, Laffranchi, Flanagan, Clough, Jones, Makinson, Ashe, Walmsley, Walker, Percival, Charnock.

Prediction: Wigan will be too strong for a St Helens side, missing some key players through injury – home win.

Stats:

Wigan’s Sam Tomkins scored tries in all four of the Warriors’ 2012 meetings with St Helens as follows: 1-1-2-1.

Last 10 meetings:

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)
Wigan 18, St Helens 26 (SLQPO, 18/9/11)
St Helens 12, Wigan 18 (CCSF, 6/8/11) (at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington)
St Helens 10, Wigan 32 (SLR18, 17/6/11)
Wigan 28, St Helens 24 (SLR11, 22/4/11)
St Helens 16, Wigan 16 (SLR1, 12/2/11) (at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

Super League summary:

Wigan won 29 (includes win in 2010 Grand Final & wins in 2001, 2003 and 2004 play-offs)
St Helens won 27 (includes win in 2000 Grand Final & 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)