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Final Up to date: 05/09/25 10:18pm
Wigan Warriors boosted their top-two ambitions with an 18-4 comeback win at arch-rivals St Helens in Rivals Spherical to tighten their grip on dwelling benefit within the Tremendous League play-offs.
With simply three rounds of the common season remaining, defending champions Wigan might ailing afford a slip-up in opposition to their fierce rivals, for whom victory was nothing in need of important to maintain play-off hopes alive.
The hosts made the brighter begin and deservedly went forward inside six minutes by way of Deon Cross, with Wigan struggling to discover a foothold till the half-hour mark.
However when the response got here, it was the response of champions. Jake Wardle and Liam Marshall crossed inside 4 minutes to flip the momentum and put the guests in management earlier than the break.
The killer blow got here within the second half when Bevan French’s sharp offload launched Jai Discipline, who streaked the size of the sector for a surprising third attempt to extinguish Saints’ four-game successful streak and dent their play-off hopes.
Wigan guarantee Hull KR champagne stays on ice
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The right begin for St Helens as Deon Cross goes over for the Saints to provide them an early lead in opposition to Wigan
Defeat for the defending champions would have set Hull KR up with the scrumptious prospect of confirming their first League Leaders’ Defend with victory over Hull FC at Craven Park on Sunday.
However the champagne should keep on ice for not less than one other week after a searing length-of-the-field attempt from Discipline capped a stirring second-half show from Matt Peet’s males.
In actuality the race for high spot nonetheless appears all however mathematically over, however Wigan, bolstered by the current returns of French and Luke Thompson, proceed to point out indicators of peaking on the proper time.
They withstood a bristling begin from Saints, who had been very good within the opening 20 minutes however had solely an early attempt from Cross to point out for his or her efforts.
Paul Wellens’ facet have already secured their place within the play-offs, however this defeat makes it extra doubtless that they’ll face a semi-final journey to Lancashire neighbours Leigh.
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Wigan lengthen their lead as Jai Discipline runs the size of the pitch to attain after a superb Bevan French flick
Peet: Wigan discovered a method
Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet: “An important win. I’m proud of the team, it’s always tough coming here. Saints have got so many quality players and so much pride.
“What pleases me most is that we had been a way off our commonplace however defensively we stored turning up for each other and we had been very snug for many of the recreation.
“The errors and the penalties, we can’t continue to do that, but we still found a way.”
‘Saints architects of their very own downfall’
St Helens head coach Paul Wellens: “I’m really disappointed. I thought we started the game exceptionally well, but we had a bit of a lapse in concentration mid-way through that first half, and it never really got much better for us.
“We had been large contributors to our personal downfall tonight. And that is not to remove from the opposition, they deserved to win the sport.
“At this moment in time, we’re doing 90 per cent of the things were talking about in the week, which you can get away with in some games but last week, tonight and next week, they don’t give you that extra 10 per cent. We’ve got to find it. The onus is very much on us.”
‘Win will go Wigan world of fine’
Jai Discipline raced the whole size of the sector to seal Wigan’s victory at St Helens
Participant of the Match Jai Discipline: “You could say it was an early birthday wish coming true!
“It is all the time a tricky recreation in opposition to these guys. It would not matter the place the groups are within the competitors. It is all the time bodily they usually play for the total 80 minutes, so I used to be actually happy with the boys’ defensive efforts.
“This win will do us the world of good in terms of confidence. We haven’t won here since 2021 so to get a win here this late in the season puts us in good stead for the run in.
“We’re discovering a little bit of rhythm for the time being, so hopefully we are able to hold that movement and see what we are able to do.”
‘Great show of character’
Wigan Warriors’ Bevan French: “It was an excellent, intense recreation. It was an excellent present of character however in all probability lower than the requirements we might like at this level within the 12 months.
“We gave away too many penalties and the start wasn’t up to scratch; we were under the pump. But I’m always proud of the character, I know we’re going to dig deep.”
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