St Helens will travel to the Brick Community Stadium on Good Friday looking to defeat their bitter rivals Wigan Warriors, with the teams sat level on points in third and fourth in the Super League ladder.
It’s actually Wigan who sit third in spite of the fact St Helens had launched into a huge points difference advantage following their 82-0 win over a youthful Salford side in Round One. Wigan would beat the same opponents 54-0, wiping out much of that advantage and other results have seen them creep ahead of their nearest and dearest.
Both teams enter the game on the back of wins, although Wigan’s was far more impressive as they became the first side to defeat league leaders Hull KR in a game that was arguably perfect preparation for a derby of this intensity.
St Helens dispatched Wakefield but suffered injuries and they took the foot of their opponent’s throats in the second half, seeing their 26-0 lead slip to just a 26-14 win. They’ll be afforded no such luxury against Wigan Warriors.
Matt Peet and Paul Wellens have now confirmed the 21-man squads of each side for their Rivals Round clash.
Wigan Warriors team news
Abbas Miski made a welcome return last week and the Lebanese winger is in the frame once again as Matt Peet makes just one change as Taylor Kerr replaces Harvey Makin, who has linked up with Salford Red Devils on loan.
Adam Keighran, Ethan Havard and Luke Thompson remain out but Keighran’s role has been filled brilliantly by youngster Zach Eckersley, whilst the likes of Sam Walters and Tyler Dupree stepped up to help make up for the loss of Thompson last week.
The hooker rotation of Kruise Leeming and Brad O’Neill is set to continue whilst the lethal speed of Field and French looks set to be on show once again.
Wigan Warriors 21-man squad: 1. Jai Field, 2. Abbas Miski, 4. Jake Wardle, 5. Liam Marshall, 6. Bevan French, 7. Harry Smith, 9. Brad O’Neill, 11. Junior Nsemba, 12. Liam Farrell, 13. Kaide Ellis, 15. Patrick Mago, 16. Liam Byrne, 17. Kruise Leeming, 19. Tyler Dupree, 20. Harvie Hill, 21. Sam Walters, 22. Zach Eckersley, 23. Tom Forber, 24. Jack Farrimond, 26. Jacob Douglas, 29. Taylor Kerr
📋 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀
Matt Peet has named his squad for the sold out Good Friday Derby against St Helens!
Full squad news 👉 https://t.co/g8QcJio4fo#WWRL #SLWIGSTH pic.twitter.com/jrhIHCvHkD
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) April 16, 2025
St Helens team news
St Helens had a major shake-up last week with Tristan Sailor and Jack Welsby swapping roles whilst captain Jonny Lomax missed out due to an ankle injury. Lomax is named in the 21-man squad to face Wigan which is a boost.
Saints had just got Harry Robertson back from a HIA but the young outside back suffered a quad injury and that’s ruled him out, with Paul Wellens making changes to his squad. He only named a 20-man squad last week but James Bell and Harry Robertson have both dropped out.
In their place come Ben Davies, Marc Percival and Daryl Clark with the latter two being massive boosts. Clark and Percival had both missed out through injury whilst Davies fleshes the squad out and offers versatility in a number of positions, including centre where Saints are stretched thin.
St Helens 21-man squad: 1. Jack Welsby, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Tristan Sailor, 7. Jonny Lomax, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. Daryl Clark 10. Matty Lees, 11. Curtis Sironen, 12. Joe Batchelor, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Moses Mbye, 16. Matt Whitley, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 19. George Delaney, 20. Lewis Murphy, 21. Noah Stephens, 22. Ben Davies, 23. Jake Burns, 27. George Whitby, 29. Dayon Sambou.
🔵🔻 𝑺𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑫 𝑵𝑬𝑾𝑺
Paul Wellens has named his 21-man St.Helens squad for the Good Friday @SuperLeague battle against @WiganWarriorsRL!
Read more 😇 https://t.co/6IlsZyXMmI #COYS | St Helens Flooring
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 16, 2025
