Wigan boss Matt Peet hailed his side’s “resilience” after a thrilling derby victory over champions St Helens.
Warriors’ defence was immense as they claimed bragging rights in an intense game of high quality. They were missing playmakers Jai Field and Cade Cust but forward Joe Shorrocks did brilliantly as a makeshift stand-off. And rugged Morgan Smithies delivered a towering display at loose forward to keep the World Club champions at bay in front of a crowd of 24,275 - Wigan’s biggest home attendance in 18 years.
Peet said: “I’m really pleased with the performance. When you play champion teams you never feel like you’ve won until you’ve won it. They make you earn it. But the resilience, the cover efforts, was great and I’m so proud of them.
“These games are here to write a little bit of history and no one can take that away from them now. It’s a great day for the club and we need more of them.”
Wigan went ahead after Harry Smith sent Jake Wardle through and supported for the return pass in the tenth minute. Smith slotted the first of his three goals and his side initially rarely looked troubled. When they did, Bevan French came up with one brilliant try-saving tackle on England winger Tommy Makinson.
Liam Farrell also got back to crucially get in the way of Jonny Lomax’s pass after the England stand-off broke through. Smith added a penalty and, at the end of the first half, Shorrocks ragged England star Jack Welsby around the scruff of the neck and swung him into touch. It was reminiscent of the famous Gordan ‘Raging Bull’ Tallis’ challenge on Brett Hodgson in State of Origin.
Either way, it showed Wigan meant business. And they never let up. French came up with a killer cut-out pass to get Toby King over in the 52nd minute for Smith to make it 14-0. Saints got off the mark when Lomax pounced on Lewis Dodd’s grubber just after the hour, Mark Percival converting.
But Morgan Knowles bombed a try when spilling over the line soon after under pressure again from Shorrocks. And Sione Mata’utia was stretchered off after coming off worse when trying to put in a big hit in the 71st minute. He needed lengthy treatment and oxygen as Wigan secured their first Good Friday derby win since 2017.
Saints boss Paul Wellens said: “Sione’s a bit rattled. He took a pretty hefty blow and lost consciousness for a time but he’s conscious now. We just didn’t take our opportunities when they came up. Big games like these are always littered by small moments you have to win. Wigan won more of those. Credit to them, they deserved that.”
