Super League Magic Weekend: Wigan 16-14 St Helens - Warriors secure nail-biting victory in ferocious derby battle with Saints

05.07.2026, 22:27 skysports.com

Wigan Warriors emerged 16-14 victors after a ferocious derby battle against St Helens which closed out Super League's Magic Weekend at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Saints had a narrow 8-6 lead at half-time following a Jackson Hastings penalty and a Jake Davies try, with Tristan Sailor adding the extras to the four-pointer.

Wigan went over through Adam Keighran, with the centre converting his own try.

Wigan struck first in the second half through a converted Jai Field try and unconverted Zach Eckersley finish, but St Helens hit back via a converted Jack Welsby try to bring themselves within two points.

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With no time left on the clock, St Helens used their Captain's Challenge and were awarded a penalty for a pull back on Harry Robertson. However, Hastings missed the conversion from out wide that would have levelled the scores and taken the game to golden point.

It was a contest littered with cards and scuffles, Welsby seeing yellow in the first and second half for a professional foul and then for his part in a bust-up. Wigan's Brad O'Neill was sent to the sin-bin alongside Welsby for the second incident.

The victory for Wigan moves them into second place in the table, with St Helens dropping to sixth.

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The build-up to the game had centred around Matt Peet's comments following the last match between the teams, the 32-0 Challenge Cup semi-final victory for the Warriors. The Wigan head coach had stated St Helens had lost their identity.

It was inevitable Saints would therefore come out with all guns blazing, and that they did. In fact, the first penalty of the game came before a tackle had been made as Saints prop David Klemmer ran into the back of O'Neill on the kick chase. The two had exchanged words after the last meeting between the teams.

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In the end, it was Paul Rowley's side who dominated territory and possession early, as Wigan made a number of handling errors and conceded penalties.

Eventually, Saints opted to kick for the lead, with Hastings slotting over a penalty goal.

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Saints were creating chances and Welsby went on a superb individual run from deep, but a few plays later he kicked dead and then threw the ball into the stands, stifling Wigan's counter-attack and being sin-binned as a result.

Down a man, Saints went close through Hastings but after a loose ball was picked up by Wigan, they countered through Field. He was brought down but Wigan shifted the ball wide and made use of the spare space, with Keighran diving home in the corner, converting his own try for a 6-2 lead.

But Saints went back ahead before Welsby's return. Hastings provided a drop off ball that young back-rower Davies was able to hit with speed and find a gap in the line to score. Hastings converted.

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Injuries dominated the final 10 minutes. Daryl Clark and Owen Dagnall went off for HIAs but passed them and returned, but Wigan youngster Nathan Lowe was not so fortunate as he suffered a ruptured hamstring when being dragged into touch. The player twice passed out on the sidelines.

The second half started much more cagily than the first but a scuffle between the two sides 50 minutes in ignited the stadium into full voice once again. In an attempt to cool tempers, referee Chris Kendal sent O'Neill and Welsby to the sin-bin for their parts in the latest scuffle, Welsby going off for a second 10-minute sit down.

Then Wigan found something out of nothing. After finding space on the right flank for Eckersley to skirt down the touchline, Field was primed in support to race in. Keighran converted to put his side 12-8 ahead.

The battle then ensued and, similarly to the first half, Saints dominated territory and possession as they forced back-to-back goal-line dropouts for Wigan to defend but they could not turn pressure into points and their opportunities faded away.

Wigan then hoped they had scored through Eckersley in the 69th minute but, with a knock-on from each team in the build-up, it was not given.

It did not take long for Eckersley to get his try, though, as off the scrum that followed, Wigan shifted through hands and he had the space this time to walk in at the corner. The Wigan end erupted, with the Saints end solemn.

Saints did not give up, though, and after Welsby sliced through and Hastings converted to put them just two points behind, the game was primed for a huge ending.

The huge ending looked like it could be coming when St Helens used their Captain's Challenge with no time remaining and were awarded a penalty for a pull back on Robertson.

However, Hastings sent his conversion attempt wide to leave the idea of a golden-point showdown just as that as Wigan came out 16-14 winners.

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