|
Wigan Warriors v St Helens
- Engage Super League XI Rd 15.
Saturday 27th May
2006. Kick
Off 7:15pm at JJB Stadium. |
| Last Friday's Salford match
report included the sentences.... "Personally I'd try to sign
Michael Dobson. 20 years old and has done brilliantly in the
absence of Stacey Jones at Catalans Dragons. He returns home to
Canberra on Monday after their cup tie with Widnes but I'd be
looking to do a deal. Great kicking game is just what we need and
he'd be pretty cheap too."
Six days later he's signed and sealed. Maybe the club listen to
me? Hmmm alright maybe not.
If Dobson clicks the right gears it'll be interesting to see
how much better we'll begin to perform.
We've had zero attack all season due to the lack of a decent
half back, I'm confident Dobson will get us going in attack and if
we can maintain or recent good defensive displays of the last two
matches, surely that's reason for optimism?
Having said that though I don't think it'll make a blind bit of
difference on Saturday against Saints.
Strange things could always
occur in derbies as Good Friday 2003 proved and we must draw hope
from that.
But bottom overcoming top of the table never happens and for it
to happen on Saturday would surely be one of rugby league's
greatest shocks?
Fact is, is that the leagues worst home record meets the leagues best away
record. I was in awe last week as Saints steam-rollered over
Bradford in the Challenge Cup. Sad to say that avoiding a spanking
will be seen as a great result for us. But if Huddersfield can
beat Saints, Wigan must have a chance. Slim chance perhaps but
they are there to be grabbed. |
|
Team News -
20 Man Squads |
|
Wigan: Chris Ashton, Kevin Brown, Brett Dallas, Bryan
Fletcher, Wayne Godwin, Darrell Goulding, Bryn Hargreaves, Mick
Higham, Danny Hill, Gareth Hock, Scott Logan, Nathan McAvoy,
Michael Dobson, Sean O'Loughlin, Danny Orr, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Pat
Richards, Jerry Seuseu, Danny Tickle, David Vaealiki St
Helens: Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Jamie Lyon, Willie Talau,
Francis Meli, Leon Pryce, Sean Long, Nick Fozzard, Keiron
Cunningham, Jason Cayless, Lee Gilmour, Jon Wilkin, Paul
Sculthorpe, Jason Hooper, Paul Anderson, Vinnie Anderson, James
Graham, Ian Hardman, Maurie Fa’asavalu, Matty Smith. |
|
Potential
Milestones |
|
Michael Dobson will debut for Wigan in squad number 20. |
|
Opposition
Connections |
|
Wigan
Hooker Mick Higham played for St Helens between 2001
and 2005. He made 116 appearances for Saints, scoring 34 tries but quite often
he would appear from the substitutes bench as understudy to Keiron Cunningham.
St Helens
Saints half back Sean Long began his career at Wigan in
1997. Under coach Eric Hughes he made four appearances (1 start) but never
scored. Long moved to Widnes from Wigan before joining St Helens shortly after
in 1999.
Wigan Career: (1997) 1+3 apps, 0 tries.
Saints SL 2006: 12+0 apps, 5 tries, 1 goal, 1 drop goal.
Saints second row Lee Gilmour also began his career at
Wigan in 1997. He made a total of 92 apperances for Wigan (45 starts) between
97 and 2000 before leaving to join Bradford. He joined Saints in 2004.
Wigan Career: (1997-2000) 45+47 apps, 24 tries.
Saints SL 2006: 11+0 apps, 3 tries.
|
|
Referee |
|
Ashley Klein (Keighley) |
|
Super
League XI League
Positions |
| |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Diff |
Pts |
|
10 |
Wakefield Wildcats |
13 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
281 |
340 |
-59 |
8 |
|
12 |
Wigan
Warriors |
13 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
258 |
422 |
-164 |
4 |
|
|
Wigan Form Guide
- Last Six Matches |
|
Date |
Opposition |
Competition |
Result |
Score |
| 19th
May |
Salford (A) |
Challenge Cup R5 |
Lost |
04-16 |
| 13th
May |
Wakefield (A) |
SLXI
Round 14 |
Lost |
08-10 |
| 5th
May |
Castleford (H) |
SLXI
Round 13 |
Lost |
24-30 |
| 30th
April |
Hull FC (A) |
SLXI
Round 12 |
Lost |
12-54 |
| 22nd
April |
Huddersfield (A) |
SLXI Round 11 |
Won |
46-14 |
| 17th
April |
Harlequins (H) |
SLXI Round 10 |
Lost |
18-30 |
|
|
Opposition Form Guide
- Last Six Matches |
|
Date |
Opposition |
Competition |
Result |
Score |
| 20th
May |
Bradford (H) |
Challenge Cup R5 |
Won |
42-18 |
| 12th
May |
Warrington (H) |
SLXI Round 14 |
Won |
34-22 |
| 6th
May |
Huddersfield (A) |
SLXI Round 13 |
Lost |
16-19 |
| 28th
April |
Wakefield (H) |
SLXI
Round 12 |
Won |
08-34 |
| 21st
April |
Salford (A) |
SLXI Round 11 |
Won |
12-10 |
| 17th
April |
Catalans (A) |
SLXI Round 10 |
Won |
34-20 |
|
|
Last Six
Meetings at JJB Stadium |
|
Date |
Opposition |
| 9th
Sept 2005 |
Wigan Warriors 12 St Helens 38 |
| 25th
March 2005 |
Wigan Warriors 22 St Helens 20 |
| 25th
Sept 2004 |
Wigan 18 St Helens 12 (Play Off) |
| 20th
Aug 2004 |
Wigan Warriors 27 St Helens 18 |
| 4th
June 2004 |
Wigan Warriors 30 St Helens 14 |
| 3rd
Oct 2003 |
Wigan 40 St Helens 24 (Play Off) |
|
|
Super
League XI Stats |
| Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts % |
| Wigan
Home Record (Worst in League) |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
106 |
128 |
20 |
|
Saints Away Record (Best in League) |
7 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
184 |
91 |
85.7 |
| Team |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
| Wigan
1st Half Performances (Ranked 10th) |
5 |
1 |
8 |
154 |
232 |
11 |
|
Saints 1st Half Performances (Ranked 1st) |
13 |
0 |
1 |
216 |
62 |
26 |
| Wigan
2nd Half Performances (Ranked 9th) |
3 |
2 |
9 |
112 |
204 |
8 |
|
Saints 2nd Half Performances (Ranked 3rd) |
10 |
0 |
4 |
205 |
103 |
20 |
|
|
Attacking Rank: Wigan 11th St Helens 2nd
Defensive Rank: Wigan 9th St Helens 1st
Tries: Wigan 48 St Helens 70
Goals: Wigan 37 St Helens 65
Drop Goals: Wigan 0 St Helens 1
Points For: Wigan 266 St Helens 411
Tries Against: Wigan 76 St Helens 30
Goals Against: Wigan 76
St Helens 22
Drop Goals Against: Wigan 4 St Helens 1
Points Against: Wigan 432 St Helens 165
Top 5 Try Scorers
Wigan
Pat Richards 7
Brett Dallas 6
Sean O'Loughlin 5
Chris Ashton 4
(5 players) 3
St Helens
Ade Gardner 11
Jason Hooper 6
Paul Wellens 6
Leon Pryce 6
Francis Meli 6
Top Goal Kickers
Wigan:
Danny Tickle 26
St Helens: Jamie Lyon 54
Top
Points Scorers
Wigan: Danny Tickle (1 try, 26 goals) - 56
St Helens: Jamie Lyon (3 tries, 54 goals) - 120
|
|
Ticket
Details |
|
West Stand Gold: Adults £17, Concessions N/A
West Stand Blue: Adults £16, Concessions £12
East Stand Silver: Adults £15, Concessions £11
East Stand Red: Adults £14, Concessions £10
South Stand: Adults £13, Concessions £9
North Stand (Visitors): Adults £13, Concessions £9
Click Here
for JJB Stadium Ground Guide |
|
Media
Coverage |
|
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm to 9:15pm.
Radio in Wigan: Full Match Commentary from 7pm on BBC Radio Manchester
95.1FM
National Radio: No National Radio Coverage.
Radio at Match: Full Match Commentary from 7pm on BBC Radio Manchester
95.1FM
Internet:
Click Here for BBC Radio Manchester Online (Real Player). |
|
Match
Betting - Bet Direct |
|
Overall:
Wigan - 8/1
St Helens - 1/33 Draw -
33/1
Handicap: Wigan have a +16 start at odds
of 10/11.
First Try Scorer: Gardner 9/1 Meli 9/1 Lyon
10/1 Calderwood 14/1 Richards 14/1 Dallas
14/1 Hardman 14/1 Pryce 14/1 Talau 14/1
Moran 16/1 McAvoy 16/1
Sculthorpe 16/1 V.Anderson 16/1 Cunningham 16/1 Long 16/1
Higham 20/1 Godwin 20/1
Hooper 20/1 Wilkin 20/1 Orr 25/1 O'Loughlin 25/1
Tickle 25/1 Fa'asavalu 25/1 Gilmour 25/1 Graham
33/1 Hargreaves 40/1 Seuseu 50/1
P.Anderson 50/1 Fozzard 50/1 No Try Scorer 300/1 |
|
Weather |
|
Predominant Weather forecast from the BBC says "Light
Showers".
Max 17 Low 9, 18mph wind from West. |
|
Bilko's
Statistical prediction. |
|
The stats suggest St Helens
will win by about 30 points. |
|
Opposition
RLFans Website |
|
theentertainers.tv - saints.rlfans.com |
