We look at six classic St Helens v Wigan matches



It's that time again. One of Britain's biggest sporting rivalries is here - it's live on Sky Sports - and it's St Helens against Wigan.

It's also second versus third in Super League and after last year's Grand Final, the tension is bigger than ever. Wigan hold the bragging rights after a late Easter win - but can St Helens even things up at Langtree Park? Ahead of this one, we look at six classic matches between the two sides.

This 2000 classic was an early Super League belter between the two sides who were fighting over top spot. Wigan needed a win to overhaul Bradford and they were protecting an unbeaten home record as well. And they looked like extending it, after going 16-0 up. Steve Renouf crossed twice for the home side, with Chris Chester and David Hodgson also going over.

But they couldn't quite kill off the Saints. Sean Hoppe and Anthony Sullivan scored four pointers for Ian Millward's team, but it was Tommy Martyn who led the comeback. He already had two tries, when, with four minutes to go, he jinked through the defence before sliding home.

But controversy ensued - with the video referee having to rule whether or not Martyn had lost the ball or if defender Lee Gilmour dislodged it. But T-R-Y it was and Sean Long added the two to seal a famous win.

Wigan 16-29 St Helens – October 14, 2000 Grand Final


With the Grand Final in its third year, Wigan and St Helens went head-to-head for the first time in the showpiece event. Saints were the current holders and they went in front early doors, Sean Hoppe wriggling past three defenders on his way to the whitewash.

But Wigan hit back. Jason Robinson, in his final game in the Cherry-and-White, set up the skipper Andy Farrell and he went 20 yards to finish it off. But Chris Joynt put St Helens back in front and Paul Sculthorpe then added a one-pointer. Wigan went close, but were soon to be stunned, Sean Long putting Joynt through for his second.

So 13 points the gap, but Wigan came close to hauling it back, David Hodgson and Tony Smith both scoring. But Fereti Tuilagi gave the Saints some breathing space before Tim Jonkers went over with 30 seconds left on the clock to spark wild scenes of jubilation from the Red Vee, securing that second successive trophy.

St Helens 34-38 Wigan – June 6, 2003


The summer of 2003 saw a pulsating game between the two rivals. The Saints faithful in a packed Knowsley Road had high promise of a big win, especially when their side led 20-0 after 24 minutes, Martin Gleeson, Paul Wellens and Barry Ward all going over.

But with the game seemingly over, Wigan jolted into life. What followed was astonishing, 36 unanswered Warriors points in 35 minutes. It started before half-time, with David Hodgson and Luke Robinson both scoring. And Wigan didn't stop after the break. Kevin Brown went over before Robinson’s second pushed Wigan in front. And they still weren't finished. Brown went over for his second and Robinson completed a famous hat-trick to put the Warriors 36-20 up. 

But then it was Saints' turn to hit back. Ade Gardner and Darren Smith got them within six, only for a Farrell penalty to extend the Wigan lead. And that was enough, despite Smith’s last minute second try - Wigan held on for a sensational win.

St Helens 10-22 Wigan – October 2, 2010 Grand Final


Twelve years had passed between Wigan and their last Super League title, a mammoth period for a side with history as rich as theirs. But Michael Maguire’s 2010 brand of Warriors were on a mission to end that pain. Between them and glory lay their arch rivals, with St Helens having lost three successive finals to Leeds at Old Trafford.

It turned out to be a fourth year of hurt for the Saints. Wigan blitzed them early on, Martin Gleeson's double and Darrell Goulding's try putting them 16-0 up. There was a glimmer of hope for Saints, first when Andrew Dixon went over, then when Wigan’s Man of Steel Pat Richards limped off before half-time.

But star man Sam Tomkins laid any Warriors fears to rest after the break with a superb solo effort, beating three men before crashing over. Francis Meli crossed late on to cut the gap, but they weren't to deny Wigan a first title since 1998.


Wigan 28-24 St Helens - April 22, 2011

A sell-out crowd of 24,000 turned up at the DW Stadium for the Good Friday fixture, expecting plenty from defending champions Wigan, while St Helens were hoping for a fourth win in a row on enemy territory. And that looked the likely outcome after Jamie Foster’s penalty put the Saints in front with seven minutes to go.

It was harsh on Wigan, who had led 22-10 after two tries apiece from Josh Charnley and Pat Richards. But Saints came storming back, a comeback that included a first Super League try for a 19-year-old Tommy Makinson.

They didn't bank on the late drama though, as Wigan took the Easter spoils in the final minute - Liam Farrell crashing over from Paul Deacon's pass to claim victory.

St Helens 14-6 Wigan - October 11, 2014 Grand Final


The game that will live long in the memory of any Rugby League fan. And much longer in Ben Flower's. Tensions were already running high, when two minutes in, the unthinkable happened. St Helens stand-off Lance Hohaia collided late with Wigan's Flower, only for the prop to retaliate. He laid out Hohaia before landing another punch with the New Zealander spark out on the ground.

Phil Bentham had no choice but to brandish the red card and the game seemed over immediately, but it was Wigan who seized the game. Blake Green found Joe Burgess and he went in at the corner to give them a half-time lead. 

St Helens regrouped during the break and hit back. Sia Soliola shrugged off three tired Wigan tacklers to put them in front. And the resistance was broken when Tommy Makinson collected Paul Wellens' high kick to go over and seal a first Grand Final win since 2006.

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