St Helens v Wigan: Super League head to head
Watch live on Sky Sports Arena from 3pm on Friday
Friday 30 March 2018 15:15, UK
The Good Friday Super League derby between St Helens and Wigan Warriors will be packed with typical punch and passion. But which way will this one go? Here's three head to heads that could decide it...
Live Betfred Super League
Ben Barba v Sam Tomkins
Do St Helens boast the Man of Steel elect in their ranks at the moment? The way Ben Barba is carrying on, he'll be a shoe-in. Top of the table and flying, the Saints are orchestrated by their Australian full-back.
He is the competition's top try scorer, crossing eight times so far this season. Just watch his stunning effort last week against Hull KR. Not content with scoring himself, Barba has also laid on seven tries for team-mates, the joint-second best in Super League.
With 628 metres from his 78 carries at an average of 8.05m a drive, Wigan will have to shut Barba down early if they're to stand any chance of winning.
In the Cherry and White corner, Wigan have a match-winner all of their own. It's been a difficult time for Sam Tomkins since returning to the club from the NRL, but he's returning to the kind of form that made him the world's most expensive player.
Tomkins, like Barba, is playing a key role in Wigan's attack, both from his starting position at full-back and then from the halves, when combining with Morgan Escare. He's also on seven try assists, level with Barba and only behind Richie Myler in Super League.
He doesn't make as many metres as the Australian carrying the ball forward, but there's not many better at hitting a line late to create opportunities for others out wide. Tomkins has the opportunity on Friday to prove he's still one of rugby league's premier full-backs by outshining his on-song opponent.
Mark Percival v Oliver Gildart
One of the form players in Super League, there's still plenty for Mark Percival to prove after missing out on World Cup final selection to Wigan's John Bateman, a back-rower.
Percival is already sending a strong message to Wayne Bennett. He's scored seven tries so far for Saints, just one behind leading marksman Barba. Couple this with his two try assists, a 7.01m average drive return and 10 clean breaks - the most of any St Helens player - and you have a serious weapon in attack.
It's no surprise to see him setting the pace in 2018 with the team flying at the top of the table.
In the Wigan centres is another young Super League back forging a quality reputation in the game. It's easy to forget Oliver Gildart is aged just 21. He's already well past 50 games for the club, has three tries this season and has forged an effective left-edge partnership with both Joe Burgess and Liam Marshall.
With George Williams and Liam Farrell popping up on that side, it's easy to see why Wigan's attack is firing better in 2018. Gildart is the current Young Super League Player of the Year. Shaun Wane will want him kicking on further this campaign.
Kyle Amor v Ben Flower
What a responsibility Kyle Amor has for the rest of the season. With Alex Walmsley's neck injury a long-term concern, the Irish prop will have to step up. Fortunately, Amor is no stranger to big carries. He's notched up 442 metres from his 59 hit-ups so far this season, at an average of 7.49m a drive.
That's the best of any Saints forward if you take Walmsley out of the equation. Amor is an experienced campaigner and he'll have the two Lukes for company in the front row - Thompson and Douglas. All three will have to make up for the loss of Walmsley if Wigan are to get into a winning position.
Ben Flower certainly has previous against St Helens. Who can forget that red card in the 2014 Grand Final. Now he's one of the Warriors' pack leaders tasked with getting the side going forward. Flower has 429 metres to his name, from 60 carries at an average of 7.15m a drive.
He hasn't missed a game yet this season, playing in all six Super League matches and also the International Series game against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Flower's got some time to make up. He missed most of last season through injury, playing just 13 games after going off at Castleford in April, with knee trouble. He, more than anyone, knows the stakes of a derby game. Expect to see the prop forward fired up, but in the right way on Friday.
