Rivals Round: Checkout a DOUBLE rivalry

The Betfred Super League's Rivals Round is almost here, and there's two people in particular who are looking forward to a certain fixture on Good Friday.

Rivals on the oche, their rivalry often overlaps into the sport of rugby league, as darts aces and passionate rugby league fans Michael Smith and Joe Cullen gave their thoughts ahead of St Helens and Wigan's famous derby clash.

They also recently helped to conduct the Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-finals draw, in which they described as an "honour" and "great fun."

Between them, Smith and Cullen share many memories of watching their respective rugby league teams, including watching the 2020 Super League Grand Final together in lockdown in a hotel room - which makes for an interesting story!

But first, St Helens supporter and darts world champion Smith, makes no secret of his passion for the Red V and is pleased with how his side has begun their 2024 Super League season:

"The start of the season has been really good. It's a lot better start we've had this year than last year."

And after a round of Premier League Darts action in Belfast on Thursday night, Smith will be making a trip back to ensure he is in attendance on Friday afternoon cheering on his Saints side:

"It'll be packed out at Saints - it's a sellout. I'll be there for that one and I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to a great game and some big hits.

"It's Saints versus Wigan after all, if you don't get up for that, then you don't get up for any game - it's the best-selling game in rugby league in the UK.

"It's massive especially when you're from St Helens or Wigan. You grow up loving rugby and hating the other town. It'll be two top teams going at each other, and neither will want to lose or let their fans down."

Hoping St Helens can go on to have a big year, Smith explained what he expects from his team and would like them to achieve:

"I'd love to get to the Grand Final again and get back on the board. We've won four in a row before, so if we can start that again, it would be nice.

"We need silverware and I'd say that it's got to be the Grand Final and Challenge Cup I'd like to see.

"I've never missed a Grand Final - I went to the last four we won, and that's because I've always been beaten in the first rounds of the World Grand Prix. It's not on purpose!" Smith joked.

"If Saints were to make it this year and I couldn't be there, then my kids will be there, and my wife will be there.

"I've been to the 2019 Challenge Cup Final with my oldest boy when we lost to Warrington, too. But it would be nice to get to Wembley again and win. My youngest boy has never been to Wembley, so it would be nice to take him there."

Similarly, Wigan fan and former Masters champion and Premier League finalist Joe Cullen is hopeful of another successful season for the current Champions:

"It was a great result for us last year getting the Super League trophy back - hopefully we can do this again and get the Challenge Cup back as well.

"Wigan prides itself on silverware, so a season without silverware is a failure. If we can do the double, this would be great. That might be a little bit too much to ask - but one of the two, I'll be happy with!

"I got brought up supporting who my dad supports, which was Wigan. I've carried this on, and my son supports Wigan now.

Although Cullen will miss Good Friday's game in person due to travelling, he is excited for the occasion, and will be watching Wigan in action once he reaches his destination:

"Michael is actually going to the derby on Friday - I'm flying to Munich a day early, so I'll be watching it when I get there.

"I'm hoping for a Wigan victory. I think Saints will be looking to keep [Bevan] French and [Jai] Field quiet as every team do but if they don't I think we get the win. Them two will keep us ticking.

"Harry Smith also really stood up last year and has been amazing. I think we are favourites going into this game.

"The way the darts lands mean we're always usually away when the big games and finals are played. We try to get to a few games when we can when I'm in the country.

"My last Grand Final was actually the 2014 one, but I remember going to a quarter-final of the Challenge Cup at Warrington away. I think we got a late try there to win, and the atmosphere was brilliant."

As Good Friday fast approaches, the darts stars and good friends looked back on the memorable 2020 Super League Grand Final, where they watched this together in lockdown.

But the result of the match, they both had opposing views…

Smith admitted he was ecstatic and recalled this as being one of his favourite memories as a Saints fan:

"A highlight for me is watching the Grand Final in lockdown with Joe and it was Welsby's try. It bounced off the post and Welsby chased it down and scored.

"I was bouncing around the hotel. Joe had actually ordered food for himself and Jonny Clayton, but because I was giving it large, he went upstairs and cancelled his food and never told Jonny.

"He left Jonny starving! That was probably one of the greatest moments watching them."

Comedic for Smith, it wasn't so much a highlight for Cullen, however:

"We've had some good laughs and not so good laughs about rugby league."

"We watched the 2020 Grand Final together with that last minute try. We'd said nobody was allowed to cheer and he [Smith] went and cheered when Welsby scored - so I spat my dummy out and went to bed!" Cullen laughed.

"We have some good banter though!"

Smith and Cullen are Rivals Round ready? Are you?

Good Friday will see Smith's St Helens take on Cullen's Wigan Warriors for the famous Good Friday derby, as Rivals Round (Round 6) continues live on Sky Sports.

All six games across Rivals Round will be broadcasted LIVE and information regarding dates, venues and kick-off times can be found here.

There's still time to sign up to SuperLeague+ if you haven't already, with match passes, monthly passes and annual passes all available.