Thomas Leuluai returns for Wigan Warriors ahead of St Helens Super League clash
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 25/05/17 7:26pm
Wigan coach Shaun Wane is hoping to bring St Helens back down to earth when the old rivals kick off the new Spring Bank Holiday double-header.
Reigning champions Wigan launch round 15 of the Betfred Super League against their arch enemy at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Thursday before playing their next match just four days later.
The hectic schedule, which comes just a month after the traditional Easter congestion, is the result of a delayed start to the season caused by a proposed England training camp, which was cancelled too late to alter the fixture list.
New St Helens coach Justin Holbrook is spared the quick turn-around after his club's fixture at Huddersfield was re-arranged but Wane has no complaints over a move critics say harms player welfare.
"I like it," he said. "It's a good test for our squad and all our junior players."
Wane will be fielding his strongest available side for the trip to Saints, which will include the return of scrum-half Thomas Leuluai, who is back a fortnight earlier than expected after recovering from a broken jaw.
"Tommy will be a steady, calming influence, under severe pressure which you always get when you're playing St Helens," Wane said.
"They will be very confident, they're playing well and they've no injuries. They're flying with a new coach. I think it's a good time to get them.
"Our record is pretty decent there so we'll go into it confident. We need to start really well and hopefully they'll still be patting themselves on the back with a great win against Hull."
That 45-0 victory over Hull came at Magic Weekend on Saturday, just 48 hours after Holbrook flew into the country to succeed Keiron Cunningham.
Wane is not familiar with the former Sydney Roosters assistant coach but has gleaned some background on his rival from prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala and three-quarter Joe Burgess, who both played under Holbrook in the NRL.
"I spoke to Frank and Budgie about him and he likes to attack," Wane said. "He's obviously had a good effect on Saints. He made a change and 45-0 against Hull is a fantastic result."
Holbrook discovered the rivalry that exists between Wigan and St Helens when he was among a host of Roosters staff who attended a function at a football match in Bolton 15 months ago and were cheered by the locals for beating Saints in the World Club Series the night before.
"It is huge for both Saints and Wigan and I'm sure it will be a good game," Holbrook said. "They have got a good football team and Shaun must be a good coach to have them firing the way they have.
"It's well documented how many players they have out and that is probably why they are sitting where they are."
Although naturally delighted with his side's eight-try rout of Hull, Holbrook believes he can improve them further.
"We did our review today and saw some areas we could improve in," he said. "The players bought into it and it gives me more reason to hope that the players can play better."
Unlike his coach, Leuluai expects Holbrook's honeymoon to last a little while longer and was especially impressed with the way St Helens bounced back from their 53-10 defeat by Castleford.
"It's natural, a new coach coming in, especially after what happened the week before," he said.
"I thought they played well. They were very spirited and together and showed a lot of commitment. It's going to be a tough challenge for us."
Leuluai, who will go head to head with his predecessor Matty Smith, is desperate to help get Wigan back to winning ways after they took just a point from the three league games they played in his absence.
"I wasn't totally happy with how I was playing before," he said. "I was building and doing alright but I know I could do a lot better.
"I'm looking forward to getting back out there and kicking on. We've got some big games coming up."
St Helens: Kyle Amor, Luke Douglas, Theo Fages, Regan Grace, Morgan Knowles, Tommy Lee, Tommy Makinson, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Ryan Morgan, Mark Percival, Dominique Peyroux, Greg Richards, James Roby, Matty Smith, Adam Swift, Zeb Taia, Alex Walmsley, Jon Wilkin.
Wigan Warriors: Joe Burgess, Tom Davies, Liam Farrell, Callum Field, Liam Forsyth, Nick Gregson, Willie Isa, Thomas Leuluai, Liam Marshall, Michael McIlorum, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powell, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins, Jack Wells, George Williams.
