Saints put on a play that brought them eight tries last season, that late ball to a scorching Zeb Taia, but it's well-defended by Wigan.

Wigan run away on left and get a penalty. Kevin Naiqama biting after the tackle was made.

Mark Percival is best known for his scything running, but at the moment he's in enforcer-mode.

Shots going in all over the place from the England centre.

Wigan under the pump. Saints come again....

That defence from Saints on Wigan as the visitors tried to clear their lines was so oppressive. Suffocating.

Wigan cleared from within their own 30, but Saints come rumbling forward again.

The Warriors are weathering the storm.

TRYSAVER!

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook hammers into the Wigan defence on the back of a Theo Fages pass.

Stopped.

Then LMS offloads to Fages who has a go, but he's halted a metre away on turnover.

Wallop. It's firing up now. Sizzler.

Image source, PA

Zak Hardaker gets a reminder of the physicality of Super League in his first appearance for 16 months. Bit of patching up keeps him out there.

Here come Wigan, slicing away down the left, drifting back to the right. Kick blocked! Charge down? No. Saints get the ball on the last tackle and now they're in the Wigan half early in the set.

Ouch!published at 54 mins

54 mins

St Helens 16-12 Wigan

Wigan got to the last and Tommy Leuluai sent his kick toward the St Helens goalline but the ball was spilt by the climbing Tom Davies and Saints get a zero-tackle.

The attack only just makes it over half-way and Wigan get the ball back off the last tackle kick.

Zak Hardaker cops a shot from Mark Percival in the tackle, bit of blood flowing on the back of it. Ouch.

Dave Woods
BBC Rugby League correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

We are almost getting bored of saying 'wow' for tries like this because we're seeing them on such a regular basis.

But the athleticsm, the skills, the poise, the bravery to be able to do that.

St Helens get a penalty, for holding, but Joseph Paulo's forward pass turns play back to Wigan.

Wigan start again midway inside their own half. Sean O'Loughlin carts it in.

Saints again create the position. Theo Fages weaves his way toward the line and rolls the kick in behind.

Out for a drop out. St Helens will get the ball back here...

Wigan spill it, Dan Sarginson saw it come loose under a bit of pressure and now the Saints are 15 out, first tackle.

Jonny Lomax held up short... inches!

Well... Lachlan Coote's a lucky boy. Zak Hardaker put up a tester for the Saints full-back and he seemed to fumble it. He was pressed right in his face by the Wigan chase.

Wigan were screaming for a knock-on, didn't get it.

Saints' last tackle kick soars down field and Wigan have to come from deep.

Image source, Rex Features

Back to the grind now. Both teams trading sets. Trading kicks.

Who will break first in the second half?

Liam Farrell has many gifts, scoring tries out on the edge being one of them, but this time last-tackle kicking isn't one of them.

Slides it in behind. Nothing comes of it but a tap on the 20 for Saints.

Jonny Lomax knocks on. It's a cheap place to toss possession away. Must have just switched off a bit.

Wigan get it back then, first chance for them to get some carries in and build some pressure.

Lachlan Coote is a different style of runner to Ben Barba, less gazelle-like but equally as effective with a decent turn of pace.

He looks a real threat every time he opens up the taps.

Wigan put the squeeze on. Saints 20 away...

Big fan of The Skids, and the fact they play 'The Saints are Coming' as the teams come back out at the beginning of the second-half is a massive plus.

Can both teams come back out with the same intensity on a cool night?

Right. All-square.

Let's go. Second-half.

Can we have the same fireworks please?

Image source, SWpix

London Broncos proved doubters wrong as they won promotion to Super League. Can they do it again by staying there?

They're pretty confident at their end.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

It's been all change for Leeds Rhinos over the pre-season, with a new head coach and a host of impressive new signings.

Former Rhinos and Kangaroos back-rower David Furner has taken the reins, while Australia back-rower Trent Merrin, Tonga cannonball-centre Konrad Hurrell and half-back Tui Lolohea have headed over from the NRL, while James Donaldson arrived from Hull KR.

However, Furner is equally excited by the return of skipper Kallum Watkins on his return from a cruciate ligament knee injury

Watkins, 27, missed all but 14 games of the 2018 season after the anterior ligament problem, but returned in his testimonial against Castleford.

"He's like a new squad member," Furner told BBC Sport. "He's our captain, he's another good addition for 2019."