29 March 2024 , 18:14
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Paul Wellens saluted his side’s cool heads as St Helens ended champions Wigan’s 15-game winning run in Super League.
They struck late in a ferocious derby to beat their 12-man rivals who hadn’t lost in the league since last July. World Club champions Warriors were 4-2 ahead after Man of Steel Bevan French’s brilliant solo try in the 56th minute. But prop Liam Byrne received a red card for a shoulder to Mark Percival’s head just seven minutes later.
And England winger Tommy Makinson, back after missing the last two games injured, scored after a brilliant run from prop Alex Walmsley to nudge Saints ahead 6-4 in the 72nd minute. Konrad Hurrell sealed a sweet victory, thundering over with the final play to send the elated hosts top.
Wellens, who lost England stars Percival and Joe Batchelor to second half HIAs, said: “There’s a ferocity to these games - a chaos at times - and emotions are riding high given the importance of it. “Sometimes it comes down to fine margins and it did today.
“It took until the back end to score those tries which was really pleasing on our part. Two teams have to contribute to a hotly-fought contest and Wigan were outstanding today. It’s probably the closest thing you get to a State of Origin over here when these two play each other. It was great.”
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The only side who Wigan hadn’t defeated in that stellar run was Saints. And in a typically high-class derby, their arch-rivals made sure they didn’t equal their own record of 16 set in 2008. The contest first blew up when Wigan’s Tyler Dupree led with a forearm against fellow England prop Matty Lees in the 28th minute.
Curtis Sironen of St.Helens celebrates after teammate Konrad Hurrell (not pictured) scores his team's second try (Getty Images)Lees’ head viciously rocked back in the tackle and Dupree must have feared a red card. But referee Chris Kendall only showed yellow. In the tackle before that, Lees had knocked ex-Saints prop Luke Thompson off his feet with a belting hit.
Wigan argued Lees had made head-to-head contact in that collision and Thompson - making his first return to his former club - left for an HIA soon after. Still, Saints couldn’t break down their 12-man opponents and went in just 2-0 ahead. That came after Percival’s 26th minute penalty which brought up the centre’s 1,000th Super League point.
Wellens’ side had dominated but came up with little. And Wigan defended brilliantly, Jai Field producing a try-saving tackle on Lewis Dodd. However, they were eventually undone after Byrne’s dismissal. Peet said: “I’m disappointed to lose any game, but particularly on a Good Friday which means a lot to us all.
“There’s some pride in certain aspects of the performance and some learnings about where we can get better.”