St Helens vs Wigan Warriors Prediction: Que Sera, Sera…

Betfred Super League takes a backseat this weekend as the Betfred Challenge Cup semi-finals are played out - the first of which is St Helens vs Wigan at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday (14:30, live on BBC One).

Saints legend Paul Sculthorpe shares his St Helens vs Wigan Warriors predictions, after reviewing last week's victory over York.

Last week's clash with York was never going to be a classic, but what really matters is another two points in the bag.

Saints came out of the blocks against the only remaining 17 players available at the Knights, with coach Mark Applegarth unable to name an 18th member.

It was that man again, Bill Leyland on his second loan stint at the club, that opened the scoring after 11 minutes. Very much like his first try on Good Friday, he jumped out of dummy-half following an Alex Walmsley charge and had too much speed and power for the York defence.

Three minutes later, it was a beautiful long ball from Jackson Hastings out to the left winger Owen Dagnall, who strolled over to make it 12-0 following another Hastings conversion.

In another three minutes, it was pretty much rinse and repeat. Hastings to Dagnall, via Nene McDonald this time, and Saints were 16-0 up and cruising to victory.

One thing York deserve a lot of credit for is their resilience. That, plus a bit of complacency from the Saints, saw the visitors fight their way back into a game that should have been dead and buried.

Jessie Dee hit a flat ball on the outside shoulder of Hastings and broke the Saints line to score York's first points - and then, following a few missed opportunities from the home side to extend the lead, the Knights scored again via Dee, beating Dagnall to a chip and chase.

Paul Rowley no doubt cut a frustrated figure at halftime, with his side only 16-10 up after such a good start.

It took a whole 20 minutes to see the first points of the second half, as big Alex Walmsley barged over for a trademark try after an exceptional 40/20 from Tristan Sailor.

I thought Al was outstanding on Friday, and no doubt in great spirits after agreeing a one-year contract extension with the club.

I remember playing golf with him a couple of years back and he was really contemplating if or how long he was going to carry on playing. He's had a tough time with injuries in the meantime but, as mad as it sounds, I think the time off has energised him - both physically and mentally. He's playing as good as ever, which is great to see.

A Hastings penalty, followed by a try for the returning Jack Welsby who's missed 10 games since dislocating his shoulder, and Saints once again looked good for both Betfred Super League points.

Jake Davies continues to impress, and this week he showed he’s got wheels too, picking up a loose York pass to race 80 metres and dive over. Saints haven’t hung around in securing his services too for another couple of years. A great bit of business by Eamonn.

His fellow back-rower Joe Shorrocks has also followed Walmsley and Davies' lead in securing a new three-year deal following a strong start to the season.

Nene McDonald scored following some inventive play from Harry Robertson, but it was York who recorded the final points from a Paul McShane cross field kick. Full-time, 40-16. Job done, but not a game Rowls will be taking much from.

The focus now shifts to the Betfred Challenge Cup and a do-or-die semi-final against our arch rivals Wigan at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday.

These are the games in which the form book goes out of the window and it’s all about the 80 minutes ahead.

Wigan have been in awful form, but disregard them at your peril. Matty Peet’s team will be just as desperate as us to get back to Wembley at the end of May.

They will do it without England prop Ethan Havard, whose one-match ban has been upheld following an appeal.

There’s no doubt it’s a good time to play Wigan, though, and I fancy Saints to cover the -2.5 handicap and return to the national stadium for the first time since 2021.

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