Wigan to continue as Super Warriors - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Wigan to continue as Super Warriors

By Dominic Hodgson 18/06/2010 11:14:19 AM Comments (0)

Wigan coach Michael Maguire has called for the same again from his Super League table-topping Warriors as they get set to welcome fierce rivals St Helens.

The former Melbourne Storm assistant coach has worked wonders at the DW Stadium since his arrival last off-season.

Maguire etched himself into the hearts of all Wigan fans when he masterminded their 18-10 win in the last ever derby clash at Saints' Knowsley Road home in April, with St Helens moving to a new stadium.

Ahead of the second Lancashire derby of the season, the Warriors have won six on the spin but Maguire admits form will go out of the window on Sunday.

"We are going really well but we've got to start again and the great thing for me is that the players know they can improve on the win at Wakefield last weekend," said Maguire.

"This is a massive game for the club and the town and it would be fantastic to repeat the way we played at their place and win the game.

"That was a great experience for me and a win I will remember for a long time but this is a new game and we've got to be ready.

"Every Wigan fan puts a bit more hype on this game and that has been made clear to me since the day I arrived.

"That's what makes the game so good over here and the crowd are really going to get behind us.

"They did that at St Helens and the boys reacted and that's what I'm looking for them to do once again and get the same result."

Saints are missing several key players, including star scrum-half Kyle Eastmond, but coach Mick Potter believes his side can build on last weekend's 30-22 win over Huddersfield.

"We have built confidence from last week's match and although that doesn't make this task any easier we will get ourselves up for the game as it's a big derby," said the former St George fullback.

"There's no overriding feeling that we owe them one but it will be in the back of the players' minds."

The morale of the struggling Bradford Bulls has received a further dent ahead of the visit of Warrington with the news that former Manly captain Matt Orford has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Orford is set to undergo shoulder surgery and he said: "I wanted to try and play on but unfortunately it's out of my control. It's something that needs to be fixed because the injury is too bad.

"It's hard because you feel as if you're letting the boys down but I've just got to be patient and get back to fitness as soon as I can."

Hudersfield's former South Sydney battering ram David Fa'alogo will also spend the next two months on the treatment table after he suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem in the defeat at Saints.

The Giants take on Hull this weekend and coach Nathan Brown said: "In the past six years in the NRL David barely missed a game and we're still at a loss as to know what's going on."

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news