A Good Friday for Wigan

[josie andrews]

* Match Report as Wigan Warriors win against St.Helens at The Brick Community Stadium on Good Friday.

* Warriors scored doubles through Jai Field and Abbas Miski.

* FT | Wigan Warriors 24-14 St.Helens.

MATCH REPORT AS WIGAN WARRIORS WIN AGAINST ST.HELENS AT THE BRICK COMMUNITY STADIUM ON GOOD FRIDAY.

An energetic first half saw Wigan get the first points of the tie from the boot of Harry Smith. A penalty up the other end allowed George Whitby to knock over a two-pointer to level the scores but tries from Jai Field and Abbas Miski saw the Warriors in with a 12-2 advantage at the break.

Jai Field extended the lead in the second half with another effort under the sticks as Saints hit back through two converted efforts from Lewis Murphy and Agnatius Paasi. A second of the day for Abbas Miski confirmed the Good Friday Derby victory for Wigan.

Report

An intense opening in front of a sell-out crowd saw the Warriors register the first points of the afternoon. With Sam Walters powering towards the sticks, the ball was stripped to gift Wigan a penalty, with Harry Smith slotting over the two-pointer from close range.

Saints levelled from the tee on 22 minutes as back-to-back penalties from the Warriors allowed George Whitby to slot the ball between the sticks and make it 2-2.

Wigan thought they’d got back ahead on 26 minutes as Harry Smith went over, but after a check from the video referee, Tyler Dupree was adjudged to have obstructed the play and it remained 2-2.

A fantastic link-up between French and Field did see the first try of the game though on 18 minutes. A cute chip over from French went towards the uprights, for Field to chase, collect and score under the uprights. Harry Smith added the extras and it was 8-2 with 10 minutes until the break.

The Warriors extended their advantage just a few minutes later as a testing kick to the corner from Harry Smith was knocked forward from Percival, straight to Abbas Miski who struck on the right edge. The touchline conversion from Smith was just wide as Wigan held the 10-point advantage.

Moses Mbye was sent to the sin bin with two minutes remaining in the first half after a Eckersley hit on Zach Eckersley as Wigan saw out the half to go in 12-2 to the good at the turnaround.

Wigan were also reduced to 12-players after the restart as Sam Walters was sin binned for a high tackle on Morgan Knowles but the noise levels in The Brick Community Stadium went up a notch as Jai Field crossed for his second of the afternoon. Abbas Miski did well to collect a loose pass from Paasi before the play was shifted left for the full-back to burst through and score under the sticks once more. Smith added the two and it was 18-2 as Moses Mbye was introduced back into the tie.

As Sam Walters was also allowed back on the field following his sin bin, Morgan Knowles then produced a knock-on inside his own half to reward Wigan with a scrum 30m out. Wigan looked for a third but a knock-on close to the goal line saw it remain 18-2 going into the final quarter.

St.Helens thought they’d got over for their first try as Whitby sold a dummy before passing inside to Clark, but the play was pulled back for a forward pass. Wigan then produced a knock-on as St.Helens regained possession, sending the ball left for Lewis Murphy to dive over in the corner. From the touchline, Whitby knocked over the conversion to get the visitors back within 10.

An error at the back from Wigan saw Saints on the attack from close range, and a six-again call gave the visitors the chance for Agnatius Paasi to crash over. Whitby converted in front of the sticks and it was 18-14 with 6 minutes to play.

St.Helens continued to ask questions until the death but their spiralling kicks were dealt with by Wigan at the back. With Wigan launching a huge kick of their own on the last, Sailor spilled the ball under pressure from Bevan French – Zach Eckersley picked up the loose ball to send Abbas Miski for his second of the day, with Smith converting, confirming a huge Derby Day victory for Wigan.

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Zach Eckersley, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming, Sam Walters, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.

Interchange: Brad O’Neill, Tyler Dupree, Harvie Hill, Tom Forber (Unused).

18th Player: Jack Farrimond.

Tries: Field (29′, 47′), Miski (33′, 78′)

Goals: Smith 3/4

Sin Bin: Walters (44′)

St.Helens: Tristan Sailor, Jon Bennison, Matt Whitley, Mark Percival, Lewis Murphy, Jack Welsby, George Whitby, Alex Walmsley, Moses Mbye, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.

Interchange: Daryl Clark, Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney, Dayon Sambou.

18th Player: Noah Stephens.

Tries: Murphy (64′), Paasi (73′)

Goals: Whitby 3/3

Sin Bin: Mbye (38′)

Referee: Chris Kendall

Attendance: 24,294

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2025/04/ ... r-wigan-2/

[josie andrews]

Peet: Really proud

* Matt Peet praised the togetherness of his side to beat St Helens in the Good Friday Derby.

* Peet: “It was a tough game, I’m really proud that we stuck together enough as a team.”

* FT | Wigan Warriors 24-14 St Helens.

MATT PEET PRAISED THE TOGETHERNESS OF HIS SIDE AFTER WIGAN WARRIORS BEAT ST HELENS IN THE GOOD FRIDAY DERBY.

Jai Field and Abbas Miski scored twice in either half at a sold out The Brick Community Stadium as the Warriors climbed to second in the Betfred Super League table.

Reflecting on the win, Peet said: “It was a tough game, I’m really proud that we stuck together enough as a team. We overcame a little bit of adversity but you know those few bumps in the road will come with the tightness of the game.”

Peet added: “The game could have gone the other way but I trust the players and they kept turning up for one another. The more the game goes to breaking at speed, it suits us and we tend to come out the other side as we proved. We certainly have more in us.”

Praising the performance, Peet said: “When you see the weather close in like it did, we know we can click into that kind of game which has served us well in the past. It probably keeps the points down a little, but I thought we were in control throughout. Harry’s always very influential for us.”

Providing an update on Patrick Mago and Tyler Dupree, Peet said: “Paddy tweaked his hamstring in the warm up which will need a scan, but hopefully it isn’t too bad. Tyler’s in good spirits, but he will miss next week and rightfully so. Paddy and Tyler are two strong bodies, who in these conditions and games are important players. The conditions probably made it tighter in the end than what it needs to be, but St Helens came brave and spirited.”

Before the victory, the Warriors announced the signing of Christian Wade on a short-term deal following the conclusion of the rugby union season with Gloucester.

On the signing, Peet said: “It’s been in the pipeline for a while now, and the salary cap presents an opportunity to get someone from outside the sport in. Christian is a player we’ve admired for a long time and we feel he will bring quality, competition and experience to the squad. He has a challenge ahead, but he’s proved in the past he has the right mindset and he’ll be a great addition. His focus at the minute is with Gloucester, but we look forward to working with him.”

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2025/04/ ... lly-proud/

[josie andrews]

Field: Enjoying playing

* Jai Field shared his delight after scoring twice in the Good Friday Derby win over St Helens.

* Field: “The main thing is that the team got the win, and from that I’m enjoying playing some nice footy.”

* Watch Matt Peet and Sam Walters interviews on Wigan TV HERE.

JAI FIELD SHARED HIS DELIGHT AFTER SCORING TWICE IN THE GOOD FRIDAY DERBY WIN OVER ST HELENS AT THE BRICK COMMUNITY STADIUM.

Field’s double, alongside an Abbas Miski brace, saw the Warriors seal a Rivals Round win to move second in the Betfred Super League table.

Reflecting on the win, Field said: “Anytime you have a good win against St Helens its pleasing, especially in front of a sold out home crowd and in the Good Friday Derby. It was tough towards the end and we had to tuck it up our jumpers at times, but the crowd were unreal to get us home.”

The Warriors full-back crossed in either half to take his try total to 12 in all competitions, and on his form this season, Field said: “Scoring tries is pleasing, but I’m not out there for personal accolades. The main thing is that the team got the win, and from that I’m enjoying playing some nice footy.”

Bevan French recorded his eighth assist of the Super League season to set up Field’s first try, and on the connection between the pair, Field said: “It’s great. We’ve been playing together a while now so sometimes you just know what each other are thinking. Having that cohesiveness is really good.”

On building momentum, Field said: “The confidence is high after two wins against good sides. Hopefully we can keep things going, but we face another tough test against Hull FC next week.”

Watch full match reaction with Matt Peet and Sam Walters on Wigan TV HERE.

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2025/04/ ... g-playing/

[josie andrews]

Wigan Warriors coach hails 'phenomenal' duo after St Helens win as Matt Peet's side overcome adversity

Wigan Warriors wingers Abbas Miski and Liam Marshall were ‘phenomenal’ in their Good Friday win over St Helens after the squad overcame adversity.

That’s the view of Wigan coach Matt Peet, who praised his wing pair for the work they got through with their carries in backfield to help get their depleted pack on the front foot.

Wigan were already without starting front-rowers Luke Thompson (calf) and Ethan Havard (hamstring) heading into the derby and the middle unit suffered further blows before a ball was kicked, with powerhouse Patrick Mago withdrawing in the warm-up due to a hamstring injury. Tyler Dupree also left the action towards the latter stages of the first half after failing a head injury assessment.

The aforementioned injury blows meant Liam Byrne, Sam Walters and Harvie Hill all played longer minutes in the front-row, with loose forward Kaide Ellis playing the full 80 minutes and Brad O’Neill even having a spell in the middle towards the end of the game as Kruise Leeming stayed on at hooker.

And with that in mind, Miski and Marshall continuously put their hands up to help their forward pack out with carries as the Warriors claimed a 24-14 victory.

“He was outstanding,” Peet said when asked about Miski, who scored two of Wigan’s four tries. “As I mentioned about losing the front-rowers, there are certain players who, when ball movement becomes less, the strength of carry becomes even more important.

“Probably (Agnatius) Paasi’s significance in the game goes up for Saints, and Miski is probably is the same for us, where he is tough to tackle

I thought Abbas and Liam Marshall were phenomenal, Abbas will grab the headlines (because of his tries). They’ll never get a six-again those two, Abbas Miski and Liam Marshall, yet again no six-agains for us in the whole game, believe it or not.

“I just think it’s fascinating that we don’t get one and the way those two carry the ball and generate ruck speed, you’d think more would come of it, but I’m made up for Abbas.

“It was a tough game. I’m proud of the team, we overcame a bit of adversity which you kind of know is going to come, for either team, they are always those type of games with a few bumps in the road, but I’m really proud that we stuck together enough, but we’ve certainly got more in us.”

Peet also paid tribute to halfback Harry Smith, who delivered a man-of-the-match performance as he guided his side around the field in front of a sold-out crowd at the Brick Community Stadium.

Harry is always very influential for us,” said Peet. “But I think when you see the weather close in like it did, we know that we can click into that sort of game as well, it has served us well in the past, and probably keeps the points down a little bit, but I thought we were in control throughout.”

Next up for the Warriors is a trip to the MKM Stadium to face Hull FC in Round Nine of Super League on Sunday, April 27.

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... ty-5090798