Rugby League: Wigan Warriors 20, St Helens 12

Sep 15 2007 By Andy Hampson, Liverpool Daily Post

ST HELENS’ suffered their  first loss to Wigan under coach  Daniel Anderson in the engage  Super League last night.

The Warriors chose exactly  the right moment to snap an  eight-game losing streak to  champions and arch-rivals St  Helens by edging a thrilling  derby 20-12 at the JJB Stadium.

But Anderson is confident  his Challenge Cup winners will  be back on song come their  semi-final against Leeds in a  fortnight.

Anderson’s side, who led  twice in the first half after  Willie Talau and Ade Gardner  tries, had long since secured  top spot and the most  comfortable play-off route.

He said: “Leeds have beaten  us in both games this year but  by the time the play-offs start  we will be ready.

“Wigan played better than us.  I don’t know if there was a  difference in desire but they  played with a lot of passion and  hunger and were very strong.

“We were disappointed with  our ‘intelligence’ in the game  and we got caught up in plays  that were not what we do.
“But in the end their kicking  game pole-axed us.”

Wigan coach Brian Noble has  backed his team to go on and  win the engage Super League  after clinching a play-off place.
With Warrington winning at  Salford, defeat would have seen  Wigan miss out of the top six  for a third consecutive season.
They trailed 10-6 at the  interval but willed on by the  majority of a raucous 22,031  crowd, the Warriors powered  back with tries from Thomas  Leuluai and Liam Colbon and  three crucial Pat Richards goals.

Noble won three Grand  Finals with Bradford and when  asked if he could repeat the feat  with a Wigan side finishing  sixth, he said: “Absolutely. I’ve  experienced doing it from third  and it’s the same number of  games. The players believe they  have got a shot at doing it.

“I’m really pleased they’re in  the six because I think they deserve it.

“They’ve played some  excellent rugby this year and  they came up with the result at  the right time.

“We are unbeaten in five  games and know how to win.

“We have started our play-off  surge tonight because it was  do-or-dieeffort.”