Warrington and St Helens do battle in the first Super League play-off semi-final tonight – and the Wolves will also be looking to combat an extraordinary hoodoo in the process.
It is over five years since they won a home game against Keiron Cunningham’s side: they have lost seven consecutive times to the Saints on their own patch since then.
And Warrington’s last home win against their fierce rivals is the subject of this week’s #ThrowbackThursday, with their meeting in the play-offs just hours away.
Amazingly, that win in June 2011 was Warrington’s first home win against Saints since their days at Wilderspool in 1991- and only their third win in 40 Super League derbies against their Merseyside neighbours.
Warrington did lead 18-0 after 13 minutes thanks to tries from Michael Monaghan, Rhys Williams and Matt King – but a fine comeback from St Helens saw them lead 22-18 at the break.
And true to form, the game was properly settled late on thanks to a drop-goal from the master of the one-pointer, Lee Briers.
Warrington: Hodgson; King, Bridge, Atkins, Williams; Briers, Myler; Morley, M Monaghan, Carvell, Grix, Westwood, Harrison. Replacements: Higham, Wood, Blythe, Solomona.
Tries: M Monaghan, Williams, King, Westwood, Wood, Hodgson
Goals: Hodgson 5 Drop Goals: Briers
St Helens: Wellens; Makinson, Soliola, Meli, Foster; Gaskell, Lomax; Graham, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wilkin, Flannery, Puletua. Replacements: Eastmond, Perry, Moore, Dixon.
Tries:Puletua 2, Graham, Gaskell, Foster
Goals: Foster 4
Will it be eighth time lucky tonight for Warrington? Or will the Saints continue their remarkable hoodoo? Since that night in June 2011, the Saints have won seven times in a row:
4th August 2016 (Super 8s)
Warrington 18-20 St Helens
8th April 2016 (Super League)
Warrington 22-25 St Helens
16th July 2015 (Super League)
Warrington 14-20 St Helens
13th February 2014 (Super League)
Warrington 8-38 St Helens
8th March 2013 (Super League)
Warrington 10-22 St Helens
15th September 2012 (Super League play-offs)
Warrington 6-28 St Helens
30th March 2012 (Super League)
Warrington 16-28 St Helens
