St Helens 14-33 Wigan: O'Loughlin stars as Warriors claim local bragging rights and end Saints' unbeaten start
It is six months since Wigan won the Super League Grand Final, but they have finally produced a performance that suggests they will not relinquish their crown without a major fight.
Shaun Wane’s men have been far from their best this year, but their reward for this demolition job was the sweetest of all as their rival's previously unbeaten record wilted in the St Helens sun.
Wane said: 'I was really pleased when they won at Castleford (last week). We were wanted to come here with them unbeaten.
Derby delight: Wigan celebrate a Joe Burgess try during the 33-14 win at Langtree Park that ended St Helens' unbeaten start to the Super League season
Celebration: Liam Farrell is congratulated by teammates after scoring his try during Wigan's win
Forward charge: Joe Burgess sets his sights on the line as he sprints away from the St Helens defence to score
Touching down: Burgess dives over the line after leaving the Saints defence in his wake
Marching on: Burgess celebrates with a clenched fist to the travelling fans
SCORERS
ST HELENS (14) 14
Tries Makinson 2, Turner
Goal Walsh
WIGAN WARRIORS (20) 33
Tries O'Loughlin, Sarginson, Farrell 2, Burgess
Goals Smith 6
Drop-goal Smith
'For me as a Wigan bloke to come here and win as comfortable as that, I can’t tell you how good it feels. At the end of the day it’s a Super League game, not a Cup final, but Christ it’s an enjoyable one.'
Sean O’Loughlin’s brilliance was key, leading Wigan with a combination of skill and toughness despite the Warriors losing three players to injury as the game progressed.
He opened the scoring after just three minutes with an opportunist’s effort from dummy half, then produced one of the best passes of the season with a looping left-to-right ball for Dan Sarginson’s try.
Dragged down: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook grabs the shorts of Wigan's Darrell Goulding
Firm hold: Lance Hohaia of St Helens is tackled by Jordan James
Holding on: Eddy Pettybourne grabs the ball one-handed as Greg Richards and Paul Wellens attempt to bring him to ground
Wane said: 'Shaun never ceases to amaze me. He’s an outstanding captain, he’s a leader, he’s a good bloke and he can drink – he can do everything.'
Liam Farrell also crossed during a first half in which Wigan built a 20-14 lead. Tommy Makinson (two) and Jordan Turner touched down for Saints, but Matty Smith’s kicking kept the Warriors ahead.
Hand off: Josh Jones is pushed away by Matty Brown
On the scoresheet: Jordan Turner scored a try for St Helens during the defeat
A bizarre second try for Farrell confirmed Wigan’s triumph soon after the restart before Joe Burgess burst down the left flank and Smith added a drop goal.
Saints boss Nathan Brown said: 'You can’t carry players against Wigan and we had too many players out there who weren’t at the level needed to beat a champion side.'
Two to tango: Jon Wilkin of St Helens and John Bateman of Wigan grapple for the ball
Sweet: The honey monster makes an appearance in the crowd at Langtree Park
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Geezer, Wigan, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago
That Stevo is an absolute ****head. He might has well have been wearing a Saints shirt. Cracks me up, he hates Wigan, Cant wait to see the match on the tele so i can watch his face when Wigan win. He"s an awful commentator He"s been like this for years. The guys not fit to be a commentator.