John Bateman | Player's Perspective

There is endless debate in Rugby League circles about which derby is the real derby. Whatever your opinion, there’s no doubt that Wigan Warriors & St Helens have produced some of the most memorable moments in the modern Super League era.

From the infamous brawl at Knowsley Road in 2004 to Jack Welsby’s try in last season’s Grand Final, these two Rugby League heavyweights have delivered endless highlight reel moments.

👊 It’s not Derby week without showing this... 💥#TheDerbyWorthWaitingFor #NeverGonnaStop ???⚪?? #WWRL pic.twitter.com/UApwuWDgK1
— Wigan Warriors ???⚪?? (@WiganWarriorsRL) August 16, 2021

Now, with just six rounds left in the regular season, a new chapter is waiting to be written. Wigan and Saints meet as part of Betfred Super League’s Rivals Round on Friday Night, with the Warriors out to avenge defeat at the hands of St Helens back in Round 13.

Wigan Warriors’ John Bateman - a man who knows all about the fierce rivalry between these two teams - recognizes not only the magnitude of this occasion, but the need for his side to topple one of the leading teams in Super League on Friday Night.

“When it’s come to playing the top four teams this year, we haven’t won any of them. It’s pretty disappointing on our side – we’ve had our injuries and struggled with combinations, but I think it’s about us as individuals going out there and doing what need to do.

“The boys are excited for this week and to get stuck into it.  We’ve probably got the toughest period that we’ll have all year with the games coming up, so I think everyone’s just excited to get out there.??

The derby comes after the Warriors suffered a disappointing defeat away at a resurgent Hull KR last week – it follows an indifferent season for Wigan who, despite losing seven league games this year, still sit inside the top four ahead of Round 20.

“It’s been a bit frustrating for us all because we’ve not been winning," Bateman explained.

“I wasn’t involved in the Hull KR game, but I came into training this week and I’ve seen the boys are annoyed (with their performance). The derby’s always a good game to bounce back from and playing against St Helens - form goes out the window.

“I couldn’t care less about what’s gone on before us – this week is what it’s all about now. This is what it’s all about for anyone playing for Wigan and for anyone who’s from Wigan.

“This is the game you look for at the beginning of the season. When I came back – this is the game I was looking for straight away in the schedule.??

When the Warriors met Saints back in July, they were second best for much of the contest. The Cherry & Whites were comfortably beaten that evening and for Bateman, there was added frustration – he missed the game through injury and watched on as his teammates fell short against the Champions.

“I missed the one at their place so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into this one. I’m pretty sure if you speak to anyone from the Wigan or St Helens team, they’ll say the same thing - so it should be a cracker of a game.

“It’s always frustrating missing games, never mind the Saints derby. And for me personally, I’ve not played in one for quite a while now.

“You want the bragging rights. You want to be able to turn around to someone from St Helens and say we beat you. At the moment, they’ve got it over us quite a few times.

“But you can’t really do anything about what’s gone on beforehand, it’s all about what’s going on in the present. It’s about us taking responsibility and going out there and doing what we need to do. Me being a leader in the team that’s what I’ll be looking to do this week.??

A win could propel the Warriors into third if results go their way, but in reality, it could do so much more. As they head into the business end of the year, a victory against their rivals will give the squad a huge boost in the final third of the season.

“It will be massive. Going into the games we’ve got left, we play teams in pretty similar positions to us or just around us. If we can get a win this week and go out there and show what we’re about, it will instil some confidence into us.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the coaches and everything else but it’s nothing to do with them, it’s all about us. It’s about the people that take the field. It’s in our hands to go out there and do what we need to do.??

The Warriors face a Saints side who have lost just three times in Betfred Super League this season and like Wigan, go into the derby off the back of a defeat.

But with threats across the pitch, the Warriors will need to be at their very best to mitigate the St Helens juggernaut.

“They’ve got great players all over the pitch. It isn’t one of those games where you can turn around and say if we stop him, we win the game - you need to make sure man for man you’re on.

“We need to all outplay our opposite number – if we do that then we’ll get the job done.??

And Bateman is desperate to earn bragging rights for the Warriors – particularly in front of a raucous home crowd.

“The crowd plays a massive part, hopefully we can get as many fans in there as possible.

“There’s no better feeling than playing in front of a packed house. It makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck – it’s one of the best feelings you can have.??