The opening match of Super League XXIV sees two arch rivals doing battle when the champions Wigan Warriors head to the Totally Wicked Stadium to face the team who topped the table in the regular season last year in St Helens in a massive Thursday night game.
Both teams will be looking for fast starts to their season in this match not just for their two points to get up and running for also for the early blow in the bragging rights between two teams who are likely to be battling it out for spots at Old Trafford later in the year.
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St Helens
It was plainly evident to see how hard losing in the semi-final to Warrington hurt St Helens last year and in fairness that is exactly what it should have done after they had dominated the season to that point. That hurt could be used to fuel their fire going into this campaign and if they use it wisely they should be right back in the mix again even without Ben Barba.
Although losing the livewire full-back is not an ideal situation, there is a case to be made that with the signings they have made, Saints will be even better defensively while the additions of Lachlan Coote and Kevin Naiqama should make up some of the shortfall in the attacking areas. It would be a surprise if St Helens aren’t still very good but we need a performance from them here to be certain.
Wigan Warriors
You got the feeling that the longer last season went on the more evident it became that they had to win the Grand Final in case it was the last chance they would get for a while. We’ll only truly know what impact losing Shaun Wane has had when they are out competing in this match but we have to think it will be pretty big, especially on their defensive play, which is largely what their success has been built on all this time.
In any sport I’m never a fan of a temporary coach for a long period and while there are exceptions to the rule, knowing that Shaun Edwards comes in at the end of this season puts an interesting dynamic on the Warriors. They should be a better attacking unit under Lam but questions will centre round whether they have enough defensively against these better teams. That picture will become a little clearer here.
Team News
St Helens are expected to give their three big new signings of Lachlan Coote, Kevin Naiqama and Joseph Paulo their debuts in this match. Danny Richardson is likely to be given the half-back role alongside Naiqama.
Wigan begin their title defence without Dom Manfredi and Joe Burgess who are both suffering with knee issues. New signing Jarrod Sammut is suspended for this match so the Warriors are without three key attacking players.
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Betting
I think we have to go with the home side in this one. They look the more settled of the two in terms of the players they have available and there has been much less upheaval for St Helens than there has been for their Wigan rivals heading into the season. You can never truly write Wigan off but some key players from their run to the title last year are missing and that can’t be disputed.
Although St Helens will have to do without Ben Barba from now on, they have recruited as well as they could to try and combat that and if their big three hit the ground running and compliment what was there already then they are going to be tough to stop in this opening match. Conditions might make for a tricky night but when the scores are totted up I think Saints will have done enough here.
Tips
WON – Back St Helens (-4.5) to beat Wigan Warriors for a 4/10 stake at 1.90 with 888sport
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