WIGAN WARRIORS 16 ST HELENS 14
CALLUM WALKER, Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Sunday

WIGAN rounded off Magic Weekend 2026 with a hard-fought and thrilling win over local rivals St Helens.

The Warriors had to rely on their big stars such as Adam Keighran and Brad O’Neill to finally get over the line, but Saints can take a lot of heart from the narrow defeat, with only a missed Jackson Hastings penalty the difference between the two sides in the end.

There were a number of changes for the Warriors, with Noah Hodkinson, Bevan French, Luke Thompson, Sam Eseh and Liam Farrell all dropping out as youngsters Kian McDermott, Taylor Kerr, Lukas Mason and Shea O’Connor came in.

Meanwhile, Jake Davies came in for Curtis Sironen for Saints.

The tone was immediately set when O’Neill and David Klemmer came together without a tackle even being made.

Saints held firm from the resulting penalty, however, and it was Paul Rowley’s side that almost crossed first when Owen Dagnall chased a pinpoint Tristan Sailor grubber.

But when Saints’ Captain’s Challenge was successful following a shoulder charge on Jackson Hastings and then when Adam Keighran lost possession, Rowley’s charges finally hit the front with a Hastings penalty.

Neither side was at its disciplined best and Jack Welsby was sinbinned shortly after for kicking the ball away and delaying the restart.

And, from a Jai Field break, Wigan registered the first try. A sublime Harry Smith pass sent Jack Farrimond charging down the right. Farrimond drew Davies and fed Keighran, who did the rest for a scintillating score. Keighran converted expertly for a 6-2 lead.

But a knock-on from the kick-off handed Saints the platform from which to strike and a brilliant Hastings pass saw Davies fly over as the half-hour loomed. Tristan Sailor converted to make it 8-6.

The Warriors snubbed the chance to level proceedings when Saints were found offside, and that decision proved costly with Nathan Lowe being forced into touch.

That was Lowe’s last act of the evening as the winger was stretchered before Owen Dagnall was forced into a HIA following a big collision with Oliver Partington, who was subsequently placed on report.

With defences tight, Saints held their slender 8-6 lead until half-time.

The tight nature continued after the break too, with Harry Robertson going close on the last tackle before Smith forced a drop-out with a neat stab through.

Several skirmishes had broken out previously but George Delaney’s massive shot on O’Connor brought all the players together with Saints controversially being penalised.

Welsby found himself yellow-carded again on 51 minutes following another flare up with O’Neill also being sinbinned.

Amidst all the furore, the Warriors found the line next, Keighran sending Zach Eckersley away before Field finished off the move under the posts. Keighran converted to retake a 12-8 lead.

Wigan continued to turn the screw and they had a try disallowed on 69 minutes when Eckersley found himself scoring, only for it to be disallowed for a Keighran knock-on.

But there was no stopping the winger in the next set as Farrimond skipped out of a tackle and offloaded to Eckersley for an easy run-in.

Keighran, however, couldn’t convert, but Wigan were now 16-8 up.

That lead was cut to just two with four minutes remaining when Welsby crossed for a deserved score and Hastings converted, but Saints were still two points adrift.

But when Robertson was pulled back chasing his own kick on the hooter, Hastings had the chance to level – he missed and Wigan held on.

GAMESTAR: Adam Keighran was instrumental throughout for Wigan.

GAMEBREAKER: Jackson Hastings’ missed penalty goal on the hooter finally ended proceedings.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Adam Keighran’s try was a thing of beauty that involved a sublime Harry Smith pass.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Adam Keighran (Wigan)
2 pts Brad O’Neill (Wigan)
1 pt Jack Welsby (St Helens)

MATCHFACTS

WARRIORS
1 Jai Field
2 Zach Eckersley
3 Adam Keighran
4 Jake Wardle
26 Nathan Lowe
19 Jack Farrimond
7 Harry Smith
8 Ethan Havard
9 Brad O’Neill
23 Kian McDermott
11 Junior Nsemba
17 Oliver Partington
13 Kaide Ellis
Subs (all used)
15 Patrick Mago
25 Taylor Kerr
27 Lukas Mason
41 Shea O’Connor
18th man (not used)
20 Sam Eseh Jr
Also in 21-man squad
33 George O’Loughlin
34 Finlay Yeomans
38 Austin Daniel

Tries: Keighran (22), Field (54), Eckersley (70)
Goals: Keighran 2/3
Sin bin: O’Neill (51) – pushing

SAINTS
1 Jack Welsby
26 Jacob Douglas
3 Harry Robertson
25 Nene Macdonald
24 Owen Dagnall
6 Tristan Sailor
31 Jackson Hastings
8 Alex Walmsley
9 Daryl Clark
13 David Klemmer
28 Jake Davies
12 Shane Wright
22 Joe Shorrocks
Subs (all used)
14 Jacob Host
15 George Delaney
30 Tom Humphreys
35 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
18th man (not used)
36 Billy Keeley
Also in 21-man squad
11 Curtis Sironen
23 Jake Burns
29 Alfie Sinclair

Tries: Davies (26), Welsby (76)
Goals: Hastings 2/3, Sailor 1/1
Sin bin: Welsby (18) – professional foul, Welsby (51) – pushing

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 6-2, 6-8; 12-8, 16-8, 16-14

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Warriors: Adam Keighran; Saints: Jack Welsby

Penalty count: 8-8
Half-time: 6-8
Referee: Chris Kendall