Jai Field and Abbas Miski score two tries each as Wigan overpower rivals st Helens in Super League derby.
Wigan Warriors asserted their Super League dominance once again as Jai Field and Abbas Miski each scored twice in a thrilling 24-14 Good Friday derby victory over fierce rivals St Helens.
In front of a raucous, sell-out 25,000 crowd at the Brick Community Stadium, reigning champions Wigan produced a clinical performance laced with flair, pace, and grit to claim their third straight win and move within striking distance of league leaders Hull Kingston Rovers.
The hosts surged into an 18-2 lead early in the second half, with Field continuing his red-hot form by notching his 11th and 12th tries of the season. Miski, too, proved deadly on the flanks, capitalising on clever work from Bevan French and Harry Smith to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Yet it was far from one-way traffic. St Helens, after a sluggish start plagued by basic handling errors and costly penalties, came roaring back in the final quarter. Lewis Murphy’s spectacular leap in the corner and Agnatius Paasi’s bulldozing score—redeeming an earlier blunder—brought the visitors within four points and had the away end dreaming of a stunning comeback.
But those dreams were dashed late on when Tristan Sailor spilled the ball in a desperate attacking move, allowing Zach Eckersley to scoop it up and send Miski over for his second try—putting the result beyond doubt and sealing a hat-trick of derby wins for Wigan over Saints.
The game began cagily, both sides trading early penalties. Field had an early score chalked off after video referee Liam Rush spotted obstruction, but made amends moments later by racing onto a deft kick from French to score under the posts.
A high bomb from Harry Smith then caused chaos in the Saints’ defence, with French again involved as Miski gathered to dive over unopposed. A sin-bin for Moses Mbye, who caught Eckersley high, handed Wigan an edge they ruthlessly exploited.
Field’s second try came courtesy of a defensive lapse from Paasi, whose attempted offload gifted Wigan possession deep in enemy territory. Smith again orchestrated the move, and Field sliced through a tiring Saints line.
But Saints weren’t done. Joe Batchelor limped off injured and Jon Bennison needed a head assessment, yet they rallied admirably. Murphy’s acrobatic finish lifted spirits, and after Jake Wardle lost the ball in a dangerous area, Paasi powered through three defenders to score.
With the scoreline at 18-14 and momentum surging Saints’ way, Wigan suddenly looked rattled. But when Sailor fumbled in midfield, Miski pounced on the resulting space to dash over in the corner, clinching victory and keeping Wigan within two points of the summit.
After the match, Wigan boss Matty Peet praised his players’ resilience:
“You’ve got to ride out pressure in these games, and we did that by sticking together. It means the world to the fans and the lads showed real physicality and toughness out there.”
St Helens coach Paul Wellens lamented his side’s slow start:
“We shot ourselves in the foot early on. Against players like Field and French, that’s fatal. But the way we came back—I’m immensely proud. It just wasn’t enough in the end.”
As the league table tightens at the top, Wigan’s blend of flair and fortitude continues to send a warning to all challengers: this champion side has no intention of surrendering their crown anytime soon.
