St Helens v Wigan: Paul Wellens says strength benefits both clubs and enhances rivalry

St Helens and Wigan's mutual success is good for both clubs as it adds extra importance to Friday's derby, says Saints boss Paul Wellens.

Saints dropped the Super League title to Wigan last year having won the past four titles - including victory over the Cherry and Whites in 2020.

Wigan also followed up Saints' World Club exploits, beating Penrith as their rivals had done 12 months previously.

"This means more than just two points," Wellens told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"It always has done, it's a historical fixture, fought fiercely by two great rivals. I'm a firm believer that Wigan Warriors need a strong St Helens and we need a strong Wigan Warriors.

"Two clubs at the peak of their powers makes for a wonderful occasion."

The 44-year-old former Great Britain and England international played in 61 derbies for Saints during an 18-year long career, so is qualified when he states the importance of the rivalry with Wigan.

His opposite number Matt Peet has had a different route to his time in rugby league, as his dreams of playing for his boyhood Wigan heroes never quite came to fruition.

Instead, the 39-year-old went a different route, studying English Literature at university, continuing his rugby league journey at amateur level and progressing instead as a coach - working at almost every level before taking on the top job for 2022.

Since then Peet has won all there is to win - Challenge Cup, Super League, League Leaders' Shield and World Club Challenge. He too appreciates how important Saints are to Wigan, and what victory in this game means to either side.

"I think a lot of it comes out as respect for them as a team, it's not just a local rivalry," Peet told BBC Radio Manchester.

"They've been the best team for a long time, so we want to be a good team as well and to beat such a big team pleases me."

The ultimate test in a season?

Having already faced the best of the Australian National Rugby League in Penrith, Wigan have shown their pedigree in big games.

Yet Peet expects Saints to bring an even greater challenge given the relative positions of the two opponents when they came to face them.

"This will be the toughest," Peet added. "Penrith are an outstanding team but they're a little under-prepared compared to where we're all at right now.

"St Helens are on a good run of form, they're on home ground and know our team inside out, it's a very different challenge but almost a sterner one."

Like Wigan, Saints have plenty of muscle memory when it comes to handling the cauldron-like atmosphere of a packed house on derby day - as it will be on Friday.

There are numerous survivors from the consecutive Grand Final wins of 2019-22, the 2021 Challenge Cup final-winning team, not to mention the side that beat Penrith in their own back yard in 2023.

It is that level of experience across the board that sets up this derby as a truly eye-catching game even after just five regular season rounds.

"Part and parcel of being a successful club is how to handle those occasions - Grand Final, Challenge Cup finals and Wigan-Saints derbies," Wellens added.

"I'm confident I've got a playing group who learned to do that well over recent years, but when I look at Wigan and what they've achieved over the years they've got that too.

"That's what makes this one such an intriguing game."