Respect underpins Warriors and Saints rivalry

The Wigan Warriors and St Helens rivalry is one of the fiercest rivalries in rugby league. From the fiery 2004 Good Friday clash to the unforgettable 2020 Betfred Super League Grand Final, the two sides have been part of some of the most historic clashes of the Super League era.

A man who knows more than most about the intense rivalry between the two clubs is St Helens head coach Paul Wellens. Wellens is set to take charge of his hometown club for the first time in a Derby fixture, having been a prominent figure in countless clashes as a St Helens player.

As a proud Saint who has spent his entire playing and coaching career in the town he calls home, the scale of the occasion certainly isn't lost on Wellens.

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"I'm really excited," Wellens admitted.

"It's a huge fixture in the calendar, particularly the Good Friday fixture, there's a lot of history behind it. It's an exciting time for everyone - players, coaches, supporters - so it should be a great occasion.

"I think when you've got a Wiganer in charge of Wigan and a St Helens lad in charge of St Helens, it's not just another two points. We know the enormity of the game, we know how much it means to the people of the town and there's a lot of anticipation around this fixture. It's really exciting for rugby league in general that we have this rivalry round - it means a lot to the supporters. We're all super excited and looking forward to it."

The external pressure to win this game is huge. There's more than just two points at stake - both sets of fans demand success from their side and for Wellens, it's difficult to escape that reality during Derby week.

"Everywhere you go people mention it. Funnily enough, me and Matty [Peet] bumped into each other at kids' rugby in St Helens and straight away people are coming up to both Matty and myself talking about the game.

"You can tell there's an excitement, you can tell there's a passion for the fixture. But what I think there is within the rivalry we have - and it is a rivalry - there's a real respect for each other as well.

"We have huge respect for Wigan as a club and the way they go about their business and I think that's reciprocated. It's going to be a huge occasion but a respectful one at the same time."

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Like Wellens, Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet is the proud coach of his hometown. And like Wellens, Peet recognises both the magnitude of the Wigan and St Helens rivalry, and the respect that is shared between the two clubs.

"You've just got to enjoy it," Peet explained.

"I feel like it's a week that as a coach you've just got to hand it over to the players and see where we're at. Motivation won't be an issue for any of us this weekend.

"Like Paul [Wellens] said, the respect is huge - I've said for years that I like the way Saints have built their success. It's home grown, the players are all ultra-humble, respectful. I think James Roby and Tommy [Makinson] epitomise that - they look like low maintenance, high performance lads. They don't rub your nose in it when they beat you, they move on quick.

"I've got a lot of respect for them. There's things that our past success has been built on that they do really well and we've got to build that up again."

The Good Friday meeting between Wigan and St Helens promises to be a bellringer, even without two of the competition's biggest stars. 2022 Super League Dream Team players Jai Field and Alex Walmsley will both miss the clash for their respective teams after sustaining hamstring injuries last weekend.

But Matt Peet has insisted that despite the loss of two integral players from Friday's Derby, it helps add to the drama of the occasion.

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"The sub plots are huge, we've both got a couple of players missing. Saints are the World Club Champions and rightly so, they're the dominant team in the competition. There's just a lot to be excited about.

"You always wish that everyone was available for every game, but I think you know in pre-season, the way you practise, the way you put your squad together, that the full 25-30 men is going to be tested. 

"No one individual will separate this game. This will be about moments, team commitment and when opportunities get presented, which team can take them. I genuinely don't feel like this week for sure it will make much difference."