Wigan Warriors vs St Helens Prediction: Scully hopes for Good Friday upset

It's Rivals Round in the Betfred Super League and St Helens take on Wigan Warriors at the Brick Community Stadium on Good Friday (15:00).

Former Saint and Betfred ambassador Paul Sculthorpe has previewed the big game, sharing his Wigan Warriors vs St Helens prediction.

This is the one time of the year I truly miss playing - I'm of course talking about the traditional Good Friday clash with Wigan Warriors.

Both sides come into the game on the back of wins against Wakefield and Hull KR respectively.

However, unlike many an Easter derby, neither team are currently leading the way in the Betfred Super League.

Those bragging rights belong to Humberside, with Hull KR sitting pretty at the summit despite last Friday's 28-12 home defeat to Wigan. Their fierce rivals Hull FC, who look a completely different side under new coach John Cartwright, are only a point behind in second place. Those two go head-to-head in 'Rivals Round' in the curtain-raiser for the proper derby!

As I've already said, Saints come into Friday on the back of an important 26-14 win over a gritty Wakefield Trinity.

It was a pretty clinical first 40 minutes from Paul Wellens' side, leading 20-0 at the break.

Unfortunately, they switched off after going 26-up on the hour. Three unanswered tries by Wakefield made the scoreline far more respectable than it should have been.

Wello will be disappointed with the way the final quarter of the game went and will no doubt be questioning some of the players' individual defensive decisions.

That's not the way you want a game to finish, especially before one of, if not the most difficult test of the season - Wigan away.

One big takeaway was the performance of young George Whitby. In Wello’s post-match interview, he said he always planned on playing George against Wakefield, but the ankle injury to skipper Johnny Lomax cemented that call.

The 18-year-old had a hand in two of our first-half tries, showing great composure and skill to put Matt Whitley over - and his kicking game was clinical too, converting three of four.

There wasn't much to shout about in the second half, but Whitby showed glimpses of what we've been missing with a genuine number seven. For me, he must stay in that position from now on.

George credited his attacking coach Lee Briers for the influence he’s had on him in training. That comes as no surprise to me, having played both with and against Lee for over 20 years. His knowledge to a rookie scrum-half would be enormous.

There’s no doubt this kid has got all the tools to go right to the top and going off Wello’s praise, he’s got the attitude and application to do just that.

After a "pretty honest conversation" with his coach, Tristan Sailor was reverted to full-back last Friday, with Jack Welsby moving to stand-off.

With Lomax likely to return for the derby, Wello has got some tough decisions to make. If he sticks with Whitby, which I 100% think he should, he has to decide on the Lomax/Sailor/Welsby conundrum to fill the remaining two spots.

Friday's game should be a fierce and intense encounter, driven by a full house at the Brick Community Stadium, that ought to bring out the best in both teams.

Wigan are favourites going into the game and after they handed league leaders Hull KR their first defeat of the season, I can’t argue with that.

However, I’ve been on the wrong end of a highly-fancied Saints team in a Good Friday battle. If you don't turn up and perform, you'll get beaten.

If Saints do manage an upset, I suspect the margin of victory will be small - so my hopeful suggestion is an away win by 1-12 points.

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