St Helens stunned Wigan Warriors to win the Good Friday derby as they came from 24-10 down to win 34-24 thanks in large part to Hull KR loanee Bill Leyland.
Leyland was one of two Hull KR players loaned in by the Robins and he was the man to score the final two tries, including the go-ahead score as St Helens won an incredible game.
Wigan were in cruise control after second-half tries from Jai Field and Zach Eckersley but Jackson Hastings scored following a break down the left, with that try seeming to just be a consolation.
What followed was a Tristan Sailor score and the atmosphere turned completely with St Helens piling the pressure on before Leyland’s brace, the first a scoot from dummy-half and the second a case of him capitalising on a Jai Field error.
We’ve picked out some of the key talking points from what was a wild Good Friday derby.
St Helens v Wigan Warriors talking points
Spitting allegation
It’s also intense in a Good Friday derby and it was intense early on as a melee ensued following a knock-on by Wigan’s Zach Eckersley. As is customary, players piled in to celebrate which then led to the traditional pushing and shoving, however, an allegation was made after that.
Referee Jack Smith was hailed over by the senior St Helens players with Jake Wingfield called forward by Smith, who then confirmed that an allegation of spitting had been made against Brad O’Neill with the incident placed on report.
That will be one of many incidents looked at by the Match Review Panel on Monday. In last year’s Challenge Cup Final, the same accusation was made against Hull KR’s Sauaso Sue but was ultimately not charged, with an Operational Rules Tribunal finding that Sue had not deliberately spat at his opponent. Sue had been facing a possible six-match ban, highlighting just how much trouble O’Neill could be in if the allegation is found to be true.
Bill Leyland the hero
Loaned in on a short-term basis, Bill Leyland has written his name into St Helens’ folklore with his two-try display set to be remembered forever and a day.
His 20-minute spell looked like it would be in a losing effort given the fact Wigan opened up a 14-point lead but tries from Hastings and Sailor, before the brace from Leyland ensured a historic win for St Helens. Making matters even more incredible was the fact that Leyland had spent just one training session with Saints.
Game-changing moment
St Helens went into half-time trailing 12-10 but it could have very easily been 18-4 if not for Jake Wingfield’s incredible defensive effort to stop Kaide Ellis crashing over under the sticks.
Wingfield ensured that the ball was always held up with St Helens ultimately defending their line. Just minutes later they’d march down the field and score via Daryl Clark after the hooker’s excellent work from dummy-half.
Not content with having done it just once, Wingfield did the same in the second-half as he held up the giant Sam Walters when the Wigan man looked certain to score.
Jackson Hastings
The rumour mill pre-match was in overdrive with talk that Jackson Hastings would miss out, however, the team news confirmed the Australian star to be in the starting line-up. Donning a heavily strapped hamstring in the warm-up, Paul Rowley was asked about the fitness of his half, quipping: “Well, if he stays out there in the warm-up, he’ll be playing. If he doesn’t, then he’ll join the other 12 stars who aren’t playing.”
Hastings did in fact make it through the warm-up and even underwent a late fitness test but it was clear the hamstring wasn’t right, highlighted by Tristan Sailor taking the goal-kicking duties from his fellow Australian. Hastings managed to see out the full 80 minutes and it was his try that sparked the incredible comeback.
Another St Helens injury
Already missing so many key players, particularly in their pack, the injury woes got worse for St Helens as they lost another two forward.
The first of those was Agnatius Paasi with the prop limping off after just five minutes with it confirmed that he’d suffered a hamstring injury.
Shane Wright then went for a HIA in the 68th minute and whilst the result was not confirmed in-game, as procedures take 15 minutes, it would not be a surprise to hear that Wright failed given how wobbly he looked when standing up.
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