It has been a season of contrasting fortunes for St Helens and Warrington so far in 2023 but here, for one night at least, it felt like the reigning Super League champions, the side who have won the last four league titles and the World Club Challenge only eight weeks ago, rediscovered their swagger. That the Saints sat eighth in the table going into this game tells you everything you needed to know about their results and performances this season to date.
But here, against a side who have set the pace so far in 2023 – just as the Saints have in recent years – the champions underlined how their grip on the title they have held for more than 1,000 days will not be relinquished that easily.
