Over the last few seasons ive felt a change in atomosphere in Wigan v Saints in that the mutual respect was plain to see. The real needle and hatred seemed to come in games against Leeds and Wire but today that needle and hatred seemed to have returned, It felt like a real derby game. Long may it continue.

They despise us. I merely pity them and their poor support.

Is the hatred back?

It never went away!

mabe not the deep routed hatred but its felt different these last 24 months

Still a much nicer hatred than Wire.

A respected hate.
I have no such thing towards Warringtons fans.

Agreed, I think there is more needle with Warrington and Leeds.

Nice to be able to walk out side by side with no issues

Well played wigan, we'll be back

Thanks...

i think wire's small bit of success and bandwagon fans has taken some of the hatred away, but this is the big derby the players all rise to this game not so much wolves.

This. One or two numptys is inevitable but i suspect its as much due to booze as anything, that being said, I saw not even an indication of trouble.

we were saying that in the pub before the match with some tame saints fans, wire fans are awful you do get the odd kn#bhead saints fan just as the odd wigan fan, but with wire there just seem so many nasty,bitter fans??
highligh of the day we were in the weatherspoons in st helens and there was a bit of banter then some wigan fans started singing w#nky w#nky warrrington and the whole pub joined in

Obsessed much ?

I think every fanbase has bad fans, and thats a fact. You can't say EVERY wire fan is a kn0b head

when clearly that isn't true. i love banter between all fans, and get on well with everyone, so does that make me a bad fan simply because i support Warrington ?

Yep.

The Wigan Saints rivalry is testament to the 2 clubs history. Long may this last because the day Wigan or Saints don't have a reason to be the fiercest of rivals then Rugby League will be the worse for it. Both clubs have led the world of rugby league and like it or not, their is so much common ground between the two towns. Both have always taken pride in not just playing rugby league but playing with class and so many of the games between the two teams have been decided by something special. These games don't need hype, pre match entertainment or rousing anthems, it all happens in the 80 minutes. Essentially, what would we do without Saint Helens??

The game against them in 2005 was best. Before the match they were gobbing off about us getting stuffed 70-0 and 75-0 off Weeds and Stains. Especially this mutton dressed as lamb sort of woman (if you could call it that).

Needless to say after the superb Moran (the one and only match where he was). The same bint walked past the pub and the pure venom that spewed from it's mouth was priceless.

The day the rivalry doesn't exist or the " needle" between the fans stops then I will stop going to any game
As for wire fans.. I think they have a tiny section of idiots but so do we and every other club..

I'd take the same view as Bowtun warrior on this one. On the pitch you know the passion and desire to win for both teams will be immense, but on the sidelines before and after the game between fans its a very different atmosphere. Had some good banter with a few saints fans before the game and didn't see any trouble, a few drunken idiots mouthing off but thats nothing unusual.

Whilst we are clearly saints biggest rivals, off the pitch it's always a great day where you can feel relaxed. Unfortunately I don't feel the same way when we play wire.

Has it ever been gone.



The rivalry between our clubs is second to none in RL,sure there is hatred there at times but I have always had the upmost respect for Wigan as a club and will continue to do so,just hope the feeling is mutual.

Nah.... Wire are our main rivals now...

exactly there were some people who were a bit drunk shouting daft things in the pub and taunting the saints fans a bit but one of the saints fans who was with us did shout would you sing that in a wire pub? no you wouldn't there would be blood running down the walls

I respect Saints, I do not respect Wire, that is the difference.

I hate them both with every fibre of my being, but, I have a begrudging respect for Saints.

I walked from the stadium, to the rail station, with not a spot of bother, and people just discussing the game. This is why I love rugby league.

The derby is a pleasure of a day. Real enjoyment.

Going to Chesire is not.
My partner loves the derby. She is genuinely intimidated by going to Warrington after the last few years. I've NEVER heard her ask me to not ask her to go to the derby again. Shame the same can't be said for the other lot.

I think it's possible to overstate the 'we respect each other' thing.

It was easy to dislike the Saints fans yesterday. There was a lot of chav activity by people in Saints colours after the game. I think the Bank Holiday brings out quite a lot of this - the same thing seems to have happened at Wakey v Cas.

Saints are on a roller coaster ride at present. The unexpected Grand Final appearance last year gave them a false impression of their team's current strength. They were in the process of losing key players and were being very poorly coached. But the reality of that only hit home this year, which was a big shock to them. After that, they had the Rush/Cunningham bounce - as it would be called in political terms (aided by a Warrington team for whom arrogance appears to have replaced self-belief, and a farcical, pantomine turn from Leeds) - and again, as in politics, it only lasted a brief time. Yesterday they finally met a top side who meant business and the inevitable happened.

It's perhaps understandable why so many of them were so 'nowt', as they say. But I'm not sure that really excuses scrotey behaviour. So yes, until the Saints fans in general man up, the answer to the question must be that, yes, the hatred is back.

-wow!!! i cant understand all this garbage ppl talk about wire fans?

like you lot are angels--not-we all have a few kn@Bheads,which town doesnt!like i said,i cant understand the hatred you guys spout when talking about wire? --oh wait!!!!!

ive just checked the last cpl of results against you guys at the jjb and h-j

its all makes sense now

Great post.