Wigan Warriors v St Helens player ratings as 3 score 9/10

Wigan Warriors took on St Helens in the second game of the day at Elland Road as Super League’s Magic Weekend got well underway and Matt Peet’s side got back to winning ways as they won 20-0 to go top of Super League.

London Broncos had got Magic Weekend off to a brilliant start as they put Hull FC away with a 29-4 win but after that bottom-of-the-table clash, it was time for a clash of the giants as old foes Wigan and Saints went up against each other again.

It was the third meeting of the season with each team having one win a piece so far but both teams were vastly different today as injuries and suspensions tore apart best-laid plans.

Wigan Warriors were without Harry Smith after his three-game ban meaning they went with a half-back pairing of young Jack Farrimond and centre Adam Keighran, whereas St Helens’ recent injury woes saw Daryl Clark and Lewis Dodd ruled out for at least four weeks leading Paul Wellens to pair Moses Mbye with Ben Davies.

James Bell also stepped into the number nine role for the Red Vee but it was Wigan who had a late blow as captain Liam Farrell pulled up in the warm-up causing a late change for Matt Peet’s side.

Wigan Warriors go top after silencing St Helens

Wigan Warriors got the best of the early exchanges with Jake Wardle almost scoring bar an ankle tap from Agnatius Paasi that saw them take the lead through the Super League top try scorer Liam Marshall with the winger played in thanks to an Adam Keighran pass to score after 16 minutes.

Just minutes later Jack Farrimond showed exactly why Matt Peet put faith in him as he played a smart chip-and-chase near the St Helens line to dance through and score to double their lead to 12-0. It was then the time for Saints’ young star Harry Robertson to shine but he was stopped just short of the line.

Adam Keighran knocked a penalty over just before the half to head in 14-0 up, a result that would see them return to the top of Super League if they could hold on.

For the first 15 minutes of the second half, it seemed as though Wigan would hold on with little changing after the break but Kaide Ellis was then sent to the sin bin after a high shot on Joe Batchelor, offering Saints a glimmer of hope.

It looked like they would score when Harry Robertson broke through and offloaded to Matt Whitley but Jai Field put in a try-saving tackle that potentially secured the match result.

Liam Marshall thought he’d scored his second and put the game beyond all doubt but it was called back for a forward pass, however, there was still another try to come for Wigan with Sam Walters benefitting from the bounce to score his first try for the club and cement the 20-0 victory.

Man of the Match

Jack Farrimond was asked to step up in the absence of Harry Smith and on the big stage that is exactly what he did. The 18-year-old put in a superb performance, playing as the creative spark whilst allowing the senior Keighran to control the game.

Farrimond’s try is the sort of score that only those special players can score and it’s one of those tries that will now be played on endless Magic Weekend highlight reels.

Wigan Warriors Player Ratings

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field 8, Abbas Miski 7, Zach Eckersley 7, Jake Wardle 8, Liam Marshall 8, Jack Farrimond 9, Adam Keighran 9, Ethan Havard 7, Kruise Leeming 7, Luke Thompson 7, Junior Nsemba 7, Sam Walters 7, Kaide Ellis 9

Interchanges: Liam Byrne 7, Tyler Dupree 7, Tom Forber NA, Patrick Mago 8

St Helens Player Ratings

St Helens: Harry Robertson 7, Tommy Makinson 5, Waqa Blake 5, Joe Batchelor 7, Tee Ritson 6, Ben Davies 6, Moses Mbye 6, George Delaney 7, James Bell 7, Matty Lees 8, Matt Whitley 5, Curtis Sironen 6, Agnatius Paasi 7

Interchanges: Alex Walmsley 6, Jake Burns 7, Jonny Vaughan 7, Noah Stephens 6