Wigan Warriors, and specifically Bevan French, put on a show to beat a coachless St Helens who folded after the half-time hooter.
Matt Peet’s side won 38-16 with both Zach Eckersley and Oliver Partington scoring braces but it was Bevan French who was the star of the show.
He was one of four Wigan players to return to face a St Helens side still reeling after seeing Paul Rowley depart less than 36 hours prior. Despite such a large win, Wigan actually drop to second on account of Wakefield’s huge win.
Saints were only 18-12 down at half time but Wigan would add 20 points before a Lewis Murphy consolation as the Warriors showed their dominance in a game that will be remembered as the match that Bevan French returned.
Wigan Warriors and St Helens talking points
Bevan’s back
Making just his eighth Super League appearance of the season, Bevan French reminded everyone that he is without a doubt the best player in the competition.
Trailing 6-0, Wigan hit back thanks to French with the playmaker starting and finishing the move that saw them rip apart Saints’ left edge.
He’d target that side again with his pass for Eckersley’s first and his kick assist for his second. He’d rack up another kick assist for Adam Keighran’s score and was hooked at that point, whether as mercy or just to wrap him up for future games.
If he can stay fit for these final seven games and the play-offs then Wigan are a red hot chance to reclaim the Grand Final trophy at Old Trafford.
Game-changing moment
St Helens went in 18-12 at half time but it could and perhaps should have been 18-18 as Harry Robertson saw his 40th minute try ruled out by the video referee.
Robertson rose highest to pouch a kick and cross over with the on-field referee giving the score, however, a formal review followed with the video referee overturning the call, claiming that Robertson did not ground the ball.
That was a decision that even former Wigan man Sam Tomkins disagreed with, stating: “I think it’s a try. It’s gone up as a try and they have to have 100% evidence that that ball doesn’t touch a blade of grass and I think on an angle like that, can you tell me that that hasn’t touched?
“If I was a Saints fan or a Saints player, I’d be really upset with that.”
Had Saints gone in level then the second half could have been entirely different. Instead, Wigan opened up a two-try lead and from then, the heads of Saints’ players dropped and the effort of some diminished.
Signing of the season
He may not be the flashiest signing made this season but it’s hard to argue that Oliver Partington is not the signing of the season, and by some distance.
Arriving from Catalans in a deal that also saw Kruise Leeming head the other way on loan, Partington returned to his former club on a massive five-year deal that highlighted just how much Matt Peet thought of him.
Peet’s high opinion of the loose forward is being vindicated by every game he plays and whilst he scored two tries tonight, they were simply reward for what has been a season full of effort, grit, and toughness with Partington now surely in the conversation for an England call-up.
Jonny Lomax future
The departure of Paul Rowley surrounded the pre-match talk and will surely consume plenty of the post-match discourse too, however, one unexpected consequence was Jonny Lomax working as an assistant coach.
The veteran, currently out with a fractured jaw, was on the touchline and had an appearance linking him to interim boss Eamon O’Carroll and assistant coach Lee Briers. With the veteran off-contract, could it be a glimpse into his future?
The Warriors see off the Saints 🍒#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/XbNbsvbkMP
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 24, 2026
