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There may only be eight miles between rugby league’s two greatest rivals but in sporting terms, Wigan Warriors and St Helens are simply worlds apart right now.
The most tumultuous of weeks for the Saints ended in the way many it expected to: with a straightforward derby defeat. There was no shortage of effort, but there are bigger problems at a club that expects greatness – which is why Paul Rowley was relieved of his duties as Saints coach after nine months in charge on the eve of this game.
The timing was perhaps a surprise; the decision, not so much. It simply didn’t work out, with the Saints regressing under Rowley to such an extent that he became their shortest-serving coach in 50 years. His successor has a huge job on his hands; not just to make the playoffs this year, but to oversee a rebuild beyond.
The very fact there was some talk of St Helens keeping this respectable representing a successful outcome for a club world champions just three years ago should be humiliating for all associated with their downfall. Yes, they are struggling with injuries, but their lowly league position underlines the size of the task Rowley’s successor has ahead.
But that talk is for another day. Here, this was Wigan’s night – and there is perhaps no player that emphasises the gulf between these two legendary clubs quite like the man who stole the show here: the Warriors’ talismanic half-back, Bevan French.
Back from a hamstring injury, French scored one try and created another four and added further weight to the argument he is Super League’s greatest-ever overseas player. It was in the balance at the break, with Saints’ players providing a response to Rowley’s sacking to trail by six at half-time.
Tries for Jacob Douglas and Jack Welsby put them ahead on two separate occasions either side of French’s try. The Australian then produced two superb assists for Zach Eckersley to put Wigan in front; they didn’t go behind again as they ran riot after the break, with the Saints’ young bench unable to keep up amid three more injuries to add to their mounting list.
But tellingly, even after an ultimately comfortable win, Wigan’s coach demanded more. “There’s elements we can do better,” Matt Peet said. “It shows how far we’ve come as a group though that we could still get the win.”
It was closely contested in the first half. The second was a mismatch. French teed up Oli Partington to score four minutes after the restart, before the half-back decided to let someone else make mischief for a brief moment, as Harry Smith’s kick sent Partington over for a second as the contest rapidly moved away from the Saints.
Adam Keighran then claimed a kick from – who else – French before Wigan’s maestro was withdrawn to a standing ovation with 15 minutes left. Lewis Murphy scored a late consolation for the Saints but realistically, there is only one of these sides heading to Old Trafford for the Grand Final in October: and it is not the Saints.
Their interim coach, Eamon O’Carroll, was right to praise the effort his side displayed post-match. England full-back Welsby’s performance offered some hope too. But the problems at this club run much deeper, and Rowley’s replacement will have watched this contest from wherever in the world he is currently based and seen a club with a transitional period ahead of them.
In contrast, Wigan look equipped to go the distance again this year under Peet. They are a beacon of consistency while the winds of change will blow through the Saints at hurricane-strength force in the coming months. Two great clubs, with two very different autumns ahead.
