Wigan and St Helens renew their rivalry at the DW Stadium on Friday evening in Super League as part of Rivals Round; watch live on Sky Sports Arena from 7.30pm (kick-off 7.45pm)
Friday 20 August 2021 19:19, UK
We look at what is being said and team news ahead of the derby clash between Wigan Warriors and St Helens, live on Sky Sports on Friday...
There is always plenty of debate around what is the biggest derby in rugby league, although as far as anyone associated with St Helens and Wigan is concerned nothing comes close to matching theirs.
Regarded by some as the biggest club game in the world, the latest instalment in the long-standing rivalry between the two near neighbours takes place on Friday night at the DW Stadium.
Saints' Australian head coach Kristian Woolf is firmly in the camp of those who believe that to be the case, having learnt and seen first-hand just how much it means to players and supporters of both teams since moving to Super League from the NRL for the 2020 season.
"I can see why, and I think it is [the biggest club game in the world]," Woolf said. "The rivalry, not just from the two teams, but everybody you talk to in town adds to it and the bitter feeling which is there.
"It's obviously a rivalry where there is a bit of mutual respect between the two clubs as well, and it brings the best out of both teams and the best out of everyone.
"A really strong part of the game over here is those deep-seeded rivalries and the history of them, and I think it's a terrific part of the game.
"I've grown to learn it's a game the whole town gets excited for, it's a game our players get excited for and I'm sure it's the same for Wigan."
Last year saw Wigan and Saints duking it out for honours in Super League, with the former claiming the League Leaders' Shield but the latter triumphing in a dramatic Grand Final thanks to Jack Welsby's try on the last play of the game.
Friday's visitors arrive at the DW Stadium sitting second in the table, but on the back of a 20-10 loss to Castleford Tigers last week in a re-run of July's Challenge Cup final in which Woolf's men claimed glory.
The Warriors, currently fourth in the standings with around a month and a half until the play-offs start, were beaten last week too as they went down 26-14 away to Hull Kingston Rovers and head coach Adrian Lam knows victory in the derby would set them up well as the campaign reaches its climax.
"It's been a real difficult year this year and for whatever reasons there have been a lot of areas we haven't been able to control ourselves," Lam said.
"We understand the situation we understand what's left of the season with the six weeks and we know what we need to do to make that top four and by doing that it'll give us the best opportunity to get back to where we were last year and turn that around.
"It starts this week, it's a massive game and a massive opportunity for both teams moving forward in the sense of coming off losses.
"It's a local derby, which we don't need any motivation for because the Wigan players and fans love this, and that's the emotional side we'll tie in at the back end of the week. As a team, we're looking for an 80-minute performance and I'm looking forward to all of that."
Wigan have prop Oliver Partington back from suspension and second row John Bateman returns after missing the defeat at Hull KR through illness. However, hooker Sam Powell is out with a head knock so Amir Bourouh is set to deputise.
St Helens have lost Tommy Makinson to suspension, but welcome back Regan Grace so Jack Welsby swaps wings. Loose forward Morgan Knowles returns after sitting out the home defeat to Castleford with a minor injury.
Named squads
Wigan Warriors: Zak Hardaker, Oliver Gildart, Liam Marshall, Jai Field, Joe Bullock, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, John Bateman, Oliver Partington, Morgan Smithies, Tony Clubb, Liam Byrne, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Jake Bibby, Mitch Clark, Joe Shorrocks, Kai Pearce-Paul, Sam Halsall, Jackson Hastings, Amir Bourouh.
St Helens: Lachlan Coote, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joel Thompson, James Bentley, Morgan Knowles, Sione Mata'utia, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kyle Amor, Agnatius Paasi, Jack Welsby, Aaron Smith, Joe Batchelor, Lewis Dodd, Josh Simm, Jake Wingfield.
