Wigan Warriors captain Liam Farrell has had enough of St Helens’ domination but realises it’s a real “challenge” to end it.
It’s hard for the Cherry and Whites to stomach that their fiercest rivals are seeking a record-extending fifth straight Betfred Super League title. But Matty Peet’s Wigan do look the most likely to finally end their remarkable run. The Challenge Cup holders finished second last term and had two of the competition’s most dangerous players in Jai Field and Bevan French only to be stunned by Leeds in the semi-finals.
England second-row Farrell, 32, has won four Grand Finals with Wigan. He has succeeded Tommy Leuluai as captain for 2023 and would love nothing more than getting back to tasting victory at Old Trafford. As a proud Wiganer, it’s painful seeing their huge derby rivals flying high.
Farrell admitted to the Daily Mirror: “Of course it is. You want to be successful. Seeing Saints win like they have done is tough to take. But they deserve it and have been an outstanding team over the last four years. They are the benchmark. We want to catch up. And be better than them.
“We have a really good chance of doing that but we’d be naive to look too far ahead. We have to focus on being the team we want to be.”
If Saints did make it five in a row, it could even start talk about them eclipsing the great Wigan sides who won a record seven successive championships from 1990-1996. That would be even more galling but Farrell warned: “They could well do that. They’re there in their own right at the moment.
"They have a very good squad and we’re there, along with the other ten teams, to knock them off. It’s a challenge for whoever’s chasing them but there’s 11 hungry teams this year so hopefully we can come out on top of that.”
Huddersfield have made the key signing of Jake Connor, Warrington have revamped their squad after last year’s horror show, Catalans again look strong with the addition of Wakefield flier Tom Johnstone while beaten Grand Finalists Leeds fully intend on going one better. Farrell, starting his 14th season of Super League, said: “There’s still only four clubs who’ve won it - Wigan, Saints, Leeds and Bradford.
“But there’s more potential for the winner to come from somewhere else now. Salford have been to some finals the last few years, Huddersfield have recruited really well under Ian Watson and I do think it's up for grabs. But we have to make sure we give ourselves every chance.”
Warrington kick things off against Leeds on Thursday night with Saints Down Under on World Club Challenge duty while promoted Leigh host Salford on Friday. Warriors open up at Hull KR, who have Australian ex-Wigan scrum-half Willie Peters taking charge for the first time, on Saturday.
Farrell, who missed the World Cup with a knee injury, said: “It’s a good fixture for our first game. It’s exactly the same as last year and they’re another team who have recruited really well."
